In Guatemala, since March 19, APM Terminals Quetzal enabled the x-ray module for the inspection of containers that are used for exports and imports at the maritime terminal.
The maritime terminal made more than $7 million investment for the implementation of the non-intrusive inspection module for cargo transported at the terminal.
At the request of the export union, the Alvarado administration announced that it will negotiate with APM Terminals, a possible reduction in rates currently charged for loading and unloading of containers.
From the Cadexco statement:
San Jose, December 19, 2019. As representatives of the export sector, we see with positivism this great step taken by the Government authorities to negotiate the current rates of the Container Terminal of Moin (TCM), since a request led by the Chamber of Exporters of Costa Rica (CADEXCO) is being considered in conjunction with other business chambers, which was delivered to the President of the Republic.
Starting August 17, APM Terminals' new rates for the Moin Container Terminal will come into effect in Costa Rica, rising from $257 to $262 for the loading and unloading service.
The increase from $257.43 to $261.60 represents an adjustment of $4.17 per container, which applies whether the container is full or empty, as stipulated in clause 11.8.5.1 of the concession contract signed between the company and the government of Costa Rica.
Delays in the attention of containers in the terminal in charge of APM Terminals, congestion in the yards, cuts in the electrical flow and the computer system, are some of the complaints of the exporting sector of Costa Rica.
Complaints of delays in the port in Limon and in charge of APM Terminals are not new, because in early April, five weeks after the start of operations of the Moin Container Terminal (TCM), reported delays of at least 25 hours of work, which was due, according to the authorities, to the demarcation work of the road between San Jose and Limon.
After several delays in the construction process, the Moin Container Terminal was officially inaugurated in Costa Rica, a port that has already been authorized to start operations of the second berth.
The operations of the maritime terminal in charge of the concessionaire APM Terminals began in October 2018, since at the end of that month the authorities of the National Council of Concessions informed that after the definitive reception of the work, the maritime terminal received the order to start operating.
The Fifth Chamber of Administrative Litigation has declared void the 25 year usufruct contract between Empresa Portuaria Quetzal and Terminal de Contenedores Quetzal, property of APM Terminals.
"...APM Terminals said in a statement: "This is a judicial process in which resources still depend, so we trust in a favorable resolution for the operation of the terminal. APM Terminals will continue this process and in accordance with the law will promote the proceeding resources''."
The opening of the container terminal that is being built by APM Terminals in Limón will occur in February 2019, and not in January 2018, as originally planned.
Just weeks after APM Terminals authorities announced that the work was to be delayed until mid-2018, they have now announced that the problems that arose during the construction process are even bigger, and will result in a delay of more than one year from the date initially agreed.
Due to several constructive defects, the Dutch company APM Terminals anticipates that the opening of the container terminal will take place in June 2018 and not in January, as originally planned.
According to authorities of the concessionaire, among the inconveniences that have occurred in the process of constructing the port terminal are poor compaction of the surface of the 40 hectare artificial island, and damages in 20 meters of the breakwater, among other things.APM Terminals estimates that the work will be completed in June 2018, and not on January 18, as indicated in the contract.
Although legal challenges remain, Quetzal Container Terminal has resumed its duties and received the first vessel, after nine months of no operations.
The auditor Alexander Aizenstatd, explained that the start of operations at the TCQ was due to the fact that to date the contract has not been canceled and therefore "there is no measure affecting its validity'.
The operator of the container terminal may have already informed customers and shipping companies that on March 9th it will be ready to start receiving the first ships.
In late January the Port of Quetzal (EPQ) gave approval for APM Terminals to start operations at the Quetzal Container Terminal, and now the company could be preparing to start operations from March 9.
While pressure grows in Guatemala for the contract with APM Terminals to be annulled, the US company American Ports has expressed interest in operating the port.
Following opposition on the part of Congress to the possibility of approving a bill put forward by the executive branch proposing the granting of a direct concession to APM Terminals, now the Comptroller General of Accounts (CGC) has recommended declaring the contract void and starting a new process.
While the Morales administration insists on approval of the bill granting a direct concession of the operation of the terminal to APM Terminals, Congress has reaffirmed a position in favor of a new tender being approved.
Due to the lack of an agreement between the executive and the legislature, there has now been more than six months without any clarity on the future of the operation of the port terminal in Guatemala.
The productive sectors are urging an agreement between the President and Congress of Guatemala to formalize the concession of the container terminal to APM Terminals.
Prensa.com reports that "...The awarding of the Quetzal Container Terminal (TCQ by its initials in Spanish), is in the eye of the storm because there is no agreement on what is the legal method to establish a new contract.The Executive has already sent the proposal for a direct award, but opposition deputies questioned the proposed mechanism, while the private sector is urging both agencies to seek an early solution to the problem. "
The ACP has approved the documents to tender in ten days a concession to one of the prequalified companies; PSA International Ltd, Terminal Link, Terminal Investments Limited and APM Terminals.
From a statement issued by the Panama Canal Authority:
The Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) approved the request for proposal documents and authorized the admininstrators to continue with the approval process, prior to tendering the concession of the Port of Corozal with the shortlisted companies.
Compensation of $43 million to the State and a concession for 21 years for APM Terminals are part of the agreement made with the foreign company for it to operate the container terminal.
According to an article on Publinews, Anabella Morfin, Attorney General of the Nation, explained that"...APM and EPQ pledged to desist with the courts with their efforts to obtain a declaration of voiding due to incompetence, in order to streamline the operation of TCQ. "