Early this July Costa Rica and El Salvador officially announce that both countries had everything ready for the Central American Ferry to begin its operations, establishing an urgent needed alternative route for exports and imports between the ports of La Union in El Salvador and Caldera in Costa Rica.

The option of the Central American Ferry came as a solution for the commerce in the region since the crisis in Nicaragua has generated great losses in exports.

Back in July authorities clarified that both governments made the effort to provide the facilities and conditions for the operation of the ferry. They also commented that it would be up to the interested companies to coordinate with the concessionaires to define the activation of this maritime route.

However, almost one month later, the ferry is still aground and the expectation of having everything ready to begin operations August 17 seems unlikely. Shipping companies are interested in offering the service, but they have complained on the excess of port, migratory, sanitary and customs procedures as well as the lack of an agile and clear electronic system both in El Salvador and Costa Rica; this excess of procedures would translate into long delays at the ports and affect the logistic in the delivery of merchandise.

The Central American ferry could transport as many as 100 container trucks. Initially the Ferry was expected to operate two services a week. It would also bring down the costs of the goods since it would bring down the transit time by close to three days from Guatemala and El Salvador.

The Costa Rican Government is promoting the coordinated work between the Caldera Port Corporation (SPC), the authorities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Migration, Fiscal Control Police and the Institute of Pacific Ports in Costa Rica (Spanish acronym: INCOP) to bring down the time it will take to complete procedures in the load and unload of goods.

Costa Rican exports to Nicaragua and the rest of the Central American countries have been severely affected by the crisis in Nicaragua.