by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

(AI-Translations): Español

Puerto Caldera, one of the key maritime gateways for Costa Rica, has been facing immense pressure due to prolonged congestion.

Local online newspaper La República recently described the port situation as "on the brink of collapse."

The port has had seven years of unresolved congestion issues, with recent reports highlighting significant structural and maintenance deficiencies.

Ricardo Ospina, General Manager of the Caldera Port Society (SPC), emphasised the urgent need for infrastructure improvements and modernisation to maintain the port's efficiency.

La República reports that the current yard occupancy at the port reached 90%, occasionally exceeding 100% capacity.

In mid-July, nearly 3,300 vehicles were in designated container areas and green spaces. Puerto Caldera is typically considered congested at 65% occupancy, which makes any level higher than this quite problematic.

Authorities highlighted the dire need for expansion and improvement measures.

According to news outlet El Observador, yard occupancy reached its utmost limit in April, exacerbated by a government directive from the General Directorate of Customs (DGA) preventing the transfer of containers with advance clearance to Temporary Parking (ET).

This year, the SPC planned to start dredging activities to increase the depth to accommodate large vessels. However, the progress was postponed due to excess sediment in the berths and manoeuvring areas.

As Costa Rica’s principal Pacific port, Puerto Caldera serves as a vital artery for the nation’s imports and exports, linking local industries to international markets.

Stakeholders stress that its continued operation and development are essential to sustaining the country's economic growth and global connectivity.