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.
China Landbridge Group has started construction of the Panama-Colon container port in Isla Margarita, Panama, which will be capable of servicing Neo Panamax vessels.
From a statement issued by the Presidency of Panama:
The investment of 1 billion balboas in the construction of a new container port in the country with capacity to attend Neo Panamax vessels reaffirms the confidence of foreign companies in the economic stability of Panama.
In Costa Rica the consortium comprised of Meco and Puentes y Calzadas has been awarded a contract to design and build the definitive access road to the new container terminal in Limón.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport in Costa Rica:
For being the only bid to comply with the technical specifications of the tender, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) and the National Highway Council (CONAVI), awarded last week the design and construction of the works to build the definitive access road to the new Moin Container Terminal (TCM) to Consorcio del Atlántico, made up of the companies Meco and Puentes y Calzadas.
The government has rejected the environmental study run by the Martinelli administration for the construction of the terminal and has put the project on hold.
The multipurpose wharf project Puerto Verde Panama Atlantico, which involved the sale of Isla Largo Remo and the construction of a mega terminal for handling containers from super post panamax ships, has been canceled.
The Ministry of Public Works does not know how to finance the 2.8 kilometers access road that has to build as part of the agreement with the concessionaire APM Terminals, in charge of the construction of the mega port in Moin.
Ministry officials admit they do not have any funds defined or know which company will build the four-lane road that will connect Route 32 to the entrance of the container terminal to be built by APM Terminals in Moin.
Companies interested in developing and operating the new Panamanian port will face stiff competition from Panama Ports Company, which has already prepared a plan and requested to receive the concession directly.
The operator of the ports of Balboa and Cristobal, which has repeatedly expressed opposition to the idea of building a container terminal in Corozal, now wants to be its developer and operator, and it has now submitted a proposal to the Panama Canal Authority to receive a direct concession of the land located in the area.
Panama Canal Railway Company plans to invest $75 million once the concession of the port is approved, which is still waiting for legislation to grant the concessionaire the same tax benefits that other port operators receive.
An article on Thebulletinpanama.com reports that the operator of the Interoceanic train (PCRC) "... invested about $80 million in renovation and modernization in order to make initial annual capacity 400,000 containers.
The pit that was supposed to provide filling for the works of APM Terminals complies with environmental standards but its permission was denied after being unable to prove ownership of the land.
Lemon Stone, one of the owners of Tajo La Asunción announced it will sue the State of Costa Rica for $400 million for having banned the exploitation of the quarry to supply material to Van Oord Bam, the constructor of the new container terminal in Moin with whom it has a $350 million contract to supply 7 million tons of stone.
The construction of the new container terminal in Moin has rekindled business hotels, corporate machinery, transportation and others, in an area deprived of development factors.
Renting working machinery, hiring companies for events and renting hotel rooms are just some of the new business deals being generated in Limon, since construction of mega-port project at Moin started.
Changes have been made to river protection zones in Limon, which now includes the site where filler material was to be extracted for the new container port.
Water and Sewerage Authorities say the decision to modify the Banana River protective zone in Limon is not due to any reason other than "... the responsibility of the institution to supply water to the population," said Yamileth Astorga, AyA's executive president.
With the plans to build a highway between the Pacific and the Caribbean coast in mind, a proposal has been made to build a port in Bluefields, instead of the one planned in Monkey Point.
The Nicaraguan government announced that it has asked Taiwan to collaborate in order to finalize the project, and that the decision to change the location responds to the new road that will connect the Pacific and the Caribbean, precisely with the city of Bluefields.
A proposal has been made to develop a specialized Roll on-Roll off cargo terminal in the Pacific, to improve the management of vehicles and heavy equipment and create other opportunities for the automotive industry, such as automobile accessorization.
The proposal put forward by the Panama Canal Authority is to develop a specialized docking area for roll on- roll off ships, transporting vehicles to Panama, from where they are distributed to other markets. The aim is to promote the development of this type of cargo in Panama and lay the foundation for the development of other business lines that generate added value and chains. One of the activities that can be developed is dedicated to adding value to vehicles, called "accessorization".
The Maritime Port Authority has awarded the concession for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of a port terminal in Aguadulce, Cocle Province.
The concession will be for 20 years, under the BOT format, and the multipurpose terminal covers an area for cargo containers, fuel storage area and silos for grain and other goods.
The Maritime Port Authority explained that "...For this type of procurement and works involving engineering and complex operations the BOT format is used (Build Operation Transfer) in which the most important and overriding parts of the evaluation are experience and the financial capacity of the companies participating in the tender. "
In Costa Rica an order has been given to start work no later than January 19, and according to APM Terminals, they will start with construction of the breakwater and dredging of the access channel.
According to the instructions given by the National Tender Board, the construction of a port terminal in Moin should be starting in exactly one month. In order to get started with the first works, 600 workers will need to be hired.
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