By Sebastian May Grosser

MOPT estimates repairs at Paquera platform will take two months
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) announced tonight that the Maritime Port Division negotiated and authorized the concessionaire ferry between Puntarenas and Playa Naranjo to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for a period of two months while repairing the platform affected by the ferry collision at the Paquera terminal this Tuesday.

Today, the ferry from the Tambor shipping company collided with the ramp at Paquera, causing damage to the infrastructure that prevents its use. In this regard, Verny Jiménez Rojas, director of the Maritime Port Division of MOPT, explained that after an on-site inspection, they were able to confirm the extensive damage to the impacted platform, which led to its immediate closure for maritime safety reasons, and added:

“After the inspection by engineers from the Maritime Port Division and the Directorate of Bridges, we were able to confirm that the Duque de Alba is completely damaged, as is the ramp, which is a modular bridge, which obliges us to build a new ramp.”

MOPT stated that due to the importance of the service for the communities of the Peninsula and to address the high demand due to the closure of the bridge over the Tempisque River, the shipping company operating the ferry in Playa Naranjo was authorized to work 24 hours a day to assume the demand for vehicles from the Paquera ferry.

Authorities indicated that, after discussions with the two operating shipping companies (Tambor and Atramar), the decision was made for the ferries to operate 24 hours a day and all to dock at Playa Naranjo. This measure is intended to cause minimal disruption to residents or ferry users traveling to and from Guanacaste. Jiménez explained:

“The idea is that whenever the ferry fills up, it can depart, in both directions, and so on, 24 hours a day.”

Regarding the damage to the infrastructure in Paquera, Jiménez stated:

“When we arrived at the site, we were able to determine that indeed the modular bridge serving as the ramp is completely damaged. We even saw some buckled structures, and one of the Duques de Alba, which are used to support the vessel, is also completely damaged. These damages make it impossible for the ferry operation to continue, so the Maritime Port Division of MOPT decides to suspend the operation in Paquera until further notice.”

MOPT assured that the costs of repairs, both to the dock and to the Paquera ferry itself, will be covered by their respective insurances.

Reference