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.
In order to prevent drug trafficking, as of February 8, Costa Rica's General Directorate of Customs defined that all containers carrying fresh, organic pineapple and by-products of this fruit will be scanned by the Port Operator APM Terminals Moín.
Dried and frozen pineapple, canned preserves, compotes, jellies, jams, pineapple puree or paste, juices, concentrates and pasteurized products are the sub products that will also be subject to these revisions.
As of December 15, the X-ray module began operating in the Guatemalan maritime terminal, which will serve to inspect, in a non-intrusive manner, the contents of the containers that are used to import and export goods.
The regulations that will apply for these non-intrusive verifications were published in the Diario de Centro America. The implementation of this system is an indispensable requirement for the certification of ports by the Coast Guard in national security issues and by the tax collector.
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.
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.
Costa Rican authorities announced they plan to implement a Non-Intrusive Inspection System for the inspection of containers, which will be held on September 30 with companies interested in developing it.
This system will consist of a remote inspection center (CIR), scanners, cameras reading plates and container numbers, scales, system of anticipated risk and radio frequency antennas (RFID), informed the Ministry of Finance in a statement.From the Ministry of Finance statement:
The National Customs Service began with the implementation of 23,500 radio frequency devices through electronic tags for the identification and control of national containers.
The electronic tags (TAG) will be installed on the windshield of the vehicle, so that radio waves will transmit data from the transport unit to a computer program installed on a platform of the Secretariat of Central American Economic Integration (SIECA), informed the Ministry of Finance.
The tender for the service of electronic tax stamps for containers passing through Guatemalan customs will no longer be carried out, meaning that several companies will be able to offer their services independently.
Last June the Superintendency of Tax Administration of Guatemala had convened an informative meeting for companies that were interested in the qualification process to provide the electronic tax stamp service.
The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources is putting out to tender machinery that will be delivered to the intermediate station of San Francisco Gotera, in the department of Morazán.
El Salvador Government Purchase LPI-MARN/KFW-01-2018:
"The Supplier must ensure that all machinery is free from defective or inadequate design, assembly or improper execution, labor or defective materials, as well as leaks, defects or other failures.The materials used must be suitable for the operating conditions.All machinery must be new and must not have been in operation prior to delivery, except for tests.
The Guatemalan port terminal is putting out to tender eight Straddle Carrier container movers, two 40-foot spreaders and a 20-foot spreader.
Guatemala Government Purchase 8093229:
"Acquisition of eight container transport machines (straddle carrier) for stacking containers, for operations at Empresa Portuaria Nacional Santo Tomas de Castilla.
In Guatemala, Santo Tomás de Castilla Port is putting out to tender the supply of 28 forklifts, 15 terminal-type truck heads, 9 platform trailers and 3 Reach Staker containers.
Guatemala Government Purchase 7705247:
"Public Tender No. 04-2018, acquisition of fifteen (15) terminal type truck heads for container transfer in port terminals of the Santo Tomás de Castilla National Port Company."
The Canal Authority has clarified there is no open tender for the concession of a container port in Corozal Oeste, and states that it will continue with evaluations in order to present new terms and conditions to develop the project.
The Panama Canal has clarified that it does not have any tender in process, nor does it intend to receive proposals within the next few weeks for the concession of a port in Corozal Oeste, at the entrance to the interoceanic highway in the Pacific.
The operator of the port of Limón in Costa Rica, is seeking to diversify its business focusing on conventional cargo handling, in order to compensate for the losses it will face when APM Terminals 's container port comes into operation.
Serving as port of departure for more Nicaraguan exporters and transporting more iron and vehicles are two of the objectives that make up the strategy envisioned by Japdeva, the concessionaire of the port of Moín, in Limón, which they intend to follow over the next few years.
With $40 million from the state insurer, the Costa Rican Railway Institute could bring back into issue the railway line from Río Frío de Sarapiquí to the port of Limón.
Although the efficiency in the planning and execution of projects is not something that Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles is famous for, the initiative to restore the railroad and reimplement the container transport service from the port of Limón to Río Frio could, if it finally materializes, help improve the damaged reputation of the state run railway company.
In the first eight months of the year in Costa Rica, the theft of 107 containers was reported, generating losses of about $5.7 million for the business sector.
Theft of vans and containers in Costa Rica has been increasing in recent years.Between January and September of this year, 16 more thefts were reported than in the same period in 2016.