EL SALVADOR

The Salvadorian Port Authority (CEPA) has at long last tendered a bid for dredging at the port of La Unión nearly five years after the port was completed according to local news outlets. The port was built in 2005 and finally inaugurated in 2010. The port can theoretically handle 750000 containers annually but it has never been used due to political complications despite $200 million in investments. In October CEPA announced that six companies presented their documents to be considered in a pre-evaluation for bids. The six companies are Jan de Nul Baggerbedrijf De Boer Holding Dredging International Boskalis International Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors and Rohde Nielson. The dredging is anticipated to cost $15 million. As it stands the port has a clearance of about 9.5 meters or 31 feet but it will be dredged to 14 meters or 46 feet.