In Costa Rica, exporters insist that rates be renegotiated at the Moin Container Terminal, since currently the cost of moving a container at that terminal exceeds by about $207 what was paid at the Japdeva docks.
Along with the possibility of investing $350 million in the construction of new facilities in the Puerto Caldera, in Costa Rica, comes the promise of more competitive maritime service rates.
The interest in developing the terminal expansion project has been expressed by SPC, the current concessionaire of the Costa Rican Pacific maritime terminal, and by DP World, the UAE state port company, companies that would invest in the construction of 800 meters of berthing area at a depth of 16 meters.
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.
The closure of route 32 has generated delays in the maritime terminal of Costa Rica, delaying the entry of carriers to leave or withdraw cargo.
Five weeks after the start of operations of the Moin Container Terminal (TCM), the port in the Pacific in charge of APM Terminals, reports delays of at least 25 hours of work, which is due, according to the authorities, to the work of demarcation of the road between San Jose and Limon.
After the final reception of the work, in Costa Rica the Moin Container Terminal is expected to start receiving the first commercial ships next Friday.
Authorities of the National Council of Concessions reported that yesterday (Monday) made the final reception of the work, so the maritime terminal will receive the order to start operations at the end of this week.
Between 2018 and 2047 APM Terminals will pay approximately $1 billion for the concession of the new Moin Container Terminal which is currently under construction.
An article in Nacion.com reports that "... The data comes from a study by the Academy of Central America -a nonprofit private research center, founded in 1969-, carried out for the Dutch giant APM Terminals ".
A constitutional court has rejected appeals by port unionists and announced that the construction of the Container Terminal at Moin will begin in early 2015.
From a statement issued by APM Terminals:
San José, Costa Rica, October 9. The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Costa Rican Government and APM Termináis in an appeal filed by the port workers unión against the 33-year concession contract for the new Moin Container Terminal (TCM) in Limón on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.
In Costa Rica extreme environmentalism and the interests of the port unions are crippling a proposed $1 billion logistics development which is vital for the country
For the second time this year an appeal has been filed to obstruct the development of the port terminal by APM Terminals. Now it is the Constitutional Court that is hosting yet another appeal against the construction of the access road to the project.
In Costa Rica a judicial ruling has lifted a restriction in order to advance the construction of port for container ships in Moin.
In February the Japdeva Workers Union (Sintrajap) filed a motion to prevent two km of road being built for the construction of the New Moin Mega Container port and in response to an appeal, the Administrative Court imposed as a precautionary measure suspension of the work.
The delay in permits for a new container dock in the Caribbean side of Costa Rica could lead to increases in the cost of the project and in the rates.
The final approval for the beggining of the construction of Mega Port by in Moin APM Terminals will be left for the next government, a delay which could cause an increase in the cost of the project and in the rates.
Investments in port infrastructure, new free zones, condominium housing developments, and a new road promises more development in the area.
One of the projects planned to start in 2013 is the new Moin Container Terminal, by APM Terminals, whose construction will require three years and a workforce of 1,000 workers.
Also for 2013 is the expected start of construction of a "condominium building that was initially going to be 200 units, but due to the strong demand has been extended it to 292 units, explained Eduard Morgan, managing director of Calypso Developments, responsible for this development. "
The area related to the Port of Limon now has its own Promotion Agency, with private and public operators, and an investment guide to promote its development.
The Agency for the Development of Limon is presented as "a nonprofit joint entity of public utility made up of entrepreneurs, chambers, universities, government agencies and civil society to develop the potential of the economy of Limon and improve the competitiveness of enterprises ", which has as its mission" to promote socio-economic development, through joint planning, coordination, training and dissemination across sectors involved in the development of Limon. "
Company’s due diligence and fair-play in bid reaffirmed.
San Jose, Costa Rica – The Costa Rican courts ruled today in favor of APM Terminals in two lawsuits, brought against the company and the government, which were intended to block the awarded concession for the new Moin Container Terminal (TCM). “Today’s favorable decision from the Second Circuit Court in San Jose affirms the transparency and legality of the concession process.
Costa Rica is not obligated to compensate the concession holder APM Terminals if the minimum load volumes estimated in the contract are not met.
An article in Nacion.com reports that Carolina Murillo Alvarez, an economist at the Regulatory Authority for Public Services (Aresep), "said that the State is not required to indemnify APM Terminals (concessionaire of the docks), if the estimated minimum load volumes in the contract are not reached."
With the uncertainty created over the strike at the ports of Limon and Moin, exporters are starting to think about sending out their products via Panama or Caldera on the Pacific.
In light of the shutdown of the ports where 80% of national exports exit the country, the export sector is analyzing alternatives.
Abel Chavez, president of the National Chamber of Producers and Exporters of Pineapples (Canapep) noted that among the possibilities being studied are transporting products via the port of Caldera, Costa Rica's Pacific port or via Panamanian ones. These options represent a major increase in costs for the sector.