Costa Rica and El Salvador officially announced that both countries already have the necessary conditions for the beginning of the operations of the Central American Ferry, establishing a route for exports and imports between the ports of La Union in El Salvador and Caldera in Costa Rica.

The initiative would connect the maritime commercial flow between the two nations, with the purpose of consolidating it as an alternative and definite route sustainable in time to help minimize the risks associated with the ground transportation in the Central American region.
The actions to get the ferry up and running were intensified as a result of the crisis in Nicaragua, as an alternative measure to reduce the negative effects in the foreign commerce of Central America.

“As of now, interested companies can contact the concessionaires at the ports to offer their services”, said the Vice-minister of Foreign Commerce of Costa Rica, Duayner Salas.

Authorities clarified that both governments made the effort to provide the facilities and conditions for the operation of the ferry. However, it will be up to the interested companies to coordinate with the concessionaires to define the activation of this maritime route.

“This is fundamental progress to facilitate commerce in the region; now we are doing all the necessary efforts to consolidate this initial stage and expand it to a regional level”, commented Julian Salinas, vice-minister of Economy of El Salvador.

Costa Rican and Salvadorian authorities agree on the need to make available the possibility of offering this service in conditions of free competition, in such a way that any offers that have the capacities and fulfills the requirements will obtain the green light to operate.
The schedule in which the ferry would operate must still be defined and will depend on the frequency of the trips and the capacity of the vessel.