By Wendy Anders

The Central American business magazine, Revista Mercados y Tendencias, reported July 19 on a commercial ferry service between Costa Rica and El Salvador that will open at the end of this month.

The ferry will operate three weekly trips in both directions between the Costa Rican Pacific port of Caldera and El Salvador’s La Unión port, with a capacity of up to 85 trailers per trip.

The magazine reported in February that the service will be operated by the Naviera Odiel, leaving El Salvador for Costa Rica Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays, and traveling from Costa Rica to El Salvador Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Costa Rican President Solís visited Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales earlier this year to discuss the possibility of Guatemala’s participation in the sea commerce project. Guatemala is the region’s largest exporter and is responsible for over 30 percent of trade in Central America, reported the magazine.

Supporters of the regional commercial ferry hope the service will increase the region’s economic competitiveness by reducing transportation time and costs.

The new service should also help alleviate the transportation strain on the Costa Rican-Nicaraguan border, stated Mercados y Tendencias.

At least 12 Salvadoran and nine Costa Rican businesses have reserved space on the upcoming first trips, according to López Burrundia, Naviera Odiel’s El Salvador representative, who was cited in the magazine.