A $600 million modernization of the two Caribbean ports, Limon and Moin, will give the Caribbean Coast a leg up.  The government hopes to solicit bids by May of 2008 for a private company to rebuild and manage the ports. 

Limon is already a popular cruise destination, but the Costa Rican government hopes to limit the Limon port to cruise ships and to move all cargo ships to the nearby Moin port.  In addition to Limon being exclusively used for cruise ships the government would also like to see a private marina there as well.    

The new designs for both ports have already been handed over by Sociedad Protugaria de Santander, a Spanish public company that in 2006 signed an agreement with the Costa Rican Public Works and Transport Ministry.  The suggestions are now being analyzed by Costa Rican officials. 

One of the major obstacles the government will face is the union of the dock workers because they are completely opposed to the privatization of the docks.  Over 1,200 would be laid off with no guarantee of being rehired.  Many believe that it is the union itself that is the cause of the port’s lack of productivity.  They have won the right to take nine business days off per year for national holidays which has cost companies millions of dollars with their time sensitive exports and imports such as fruits and vegetables. 

The government has given itself until May of 2008 to find a company willing to fund and manage the project. 

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Filed under: Costa Rica News on September 27th, 2007