"On the Verge of Collapse!" Costa Rica’s Caldera Port at 100% Capacity

Caldera Port, one of Costa Rica’s critical maritime gateways, is under severe strain due to chronic congestion, with local media (La República) warning it’s "near collapse."

Key Issues:

⚠ 7-year backlog: Structural and maintenance deficiencies remain unresolved.
⚠ Overcapacity crisis: Yard occupancy hits 90-100% (vs. manageable 65%).
⚠ 3,300+ vehicles were stuck in container zones/overflow areas in mid-July.

Root Causes:

Customs bottleneck: A government directive (DGA) blocks pre-cleared containers from temporary parking (ET), worsening gridlock.
Dredging delays: Silt buildup stalls berth-deepening projects for larger vessels.

Stakeholder Alerts:

Ricardo Ospina (SPC General Manager) urges urgent infrastructure upgrades to sustain operations.
Port’s role is vital: Caldera handles 40%+ of Costa Rica’s Pacific trade, linking local industries to global markets.