Operations of the $200 million mega-port La Union are limited and only make logistics costs more expensive. The Port of Acajutla is operating at full capacity, but authorities have not yet defined a clear way forward.
Meanwhile, other countries in the region have raised investments to increase the efficiency of their port terminals.
La Union is operating at minimum capacity and "we are using the ships' cranes, there is no incentive, and there is not enough cargo to compensate us for going to that port," says José Ricardo Cruz, president of the Association of Business Representatives for Shipping and Port Companies (ARENEP).
"The idea of creating a whole chain of services and infrastructure around a mega-project funded by the Government of Japan still only exists in documents such as the one entitled "Ports, the chance of a new era of development", which was commissioned during the last presidential administration, and reflects part of the proposals made by the National Commission for Development (CND), such as improving infrastructure and services via a planned regional logistics hub. The CND was closed by the current administration", reported Elsalvador.com.
Source: elsalvador.com
More on this topic
December 2011
The Council of Ministers has approved a Plan for the Expansion and Modernization of Puerto Cortes, with which its Controlling Commission hopes to recover the country's competitiveness in regards to port activities.
The draft executive order that contains the conditions necessary to promote the development of this national port was presented by President of the Commission for the Promotion of Public-Private Partnerships (COALIAZA), Wilfredo Cerrato, an organization that is cooperating with the process of rebuilding the infrastructure of this vital Honduran port.
October 2009
They criticize the government's intention of operating the port with minimal equipment and under administration of CEPA, the state port authority.
Shipping companies remark that in order to make them leave Acajutla Port, the new port at La Unión must offer better fees and more efficient loading and unloading of containers.
September 2011
The companies Hamburg Süd and APL (American President Lines) will start operating at the marine terminal from September 13.
Ships will arrive at the terminal on Tuesdays, with three ships alternating each week.
The President of the Autonomous Executive Port Commission (CEPA), Enrique Córdova, also referred to progress being made in the drafting of the decree to authorize the concession.
May 2010
At a public audience in which authorities unveiled the proposed rates for port La Unión, several shipping companies remarked that these are not competitive.
At first glance, they commented that the rates are very similar to those of Port Acajutla (in Sonsonate).
“Milton Guillén, from Remasur, commented that docking costs seem competitive, but are overshadowed by large stay fees.
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