Costa Rica's Ports Must
Meet International
Security Standards By
2012
Costa Rica has to
improve its ports to
meet international
standards of security by
2012 if it wants to
continue exporting to
the United States.
The security measures
are for all ports in the
region, that must
include x-ray equipment
to guarantee "safe
cargo".
Otto Noak, executive
director of the Comisión
Centroamericana de
Transporte Marítimo,
explained that region is
obligated to comply with
the security measures.
Francisco Jiménez,
president of the Junta
de Administración
Portuaria y de
Desarrollo Económico de
la Vertiente Atlántica (JAPDEVA),
explained that the
Caribbean ports have to
start from scratch to be
able to comply with the
security measures, which
will become a investment
concern for the winning
bidder or bidders of the
Limón and Moín ports
concessions.
Jiménez explained that
administrative personnel
have to also be trained
in the new measures,
with the ideal that the
first teams be in place
by 2010.
"In 2012 it is essential
that every container
leaving a port other
than the U.S. has such
certification. This is a
multimillion dollar
investment that has to
be taken into account by
the winners of the
concessions, as part of
their investment "said
Jimenez.
Jimenez added that the
x-ray machines required
costs between us$3 and
us$5 million dollars,
depending on the
features of the machine. |
