Costa Rican Police Storm Port Limón

Costa Rican police entered the Port of Limón ten hours after the Japdeva Workers’ Union (Sintrajap) started a strike to oppose the government’s decision to grant APM Terminals the concession to build and operate a new container terminal in Moin, Costa Rican newspaper La Nación reports.

At 8:30 am local time, October 23, Sintrajap closed down the docks, affecting the unloading of six ships laden with fruit. According to Sintrajap, the concession, first agreed in 2011, threatens public sector jobs.

At around 6 pm local time around 150 police officers opened the port’s gates, arresting 68 people in the process, according to La Nación.

The police will remain at the port for an indefinite time to ensure the terminals stay open, Reuters reports Costa Rica’s Security Minister Celso Gamboa saying.

Earlier this month the Costa Rica’s Supreme Court  ruled in favour of the Costa Rican Government and APM Terminals in an appeal filed by the port workers union against the 33-year concession contract for the new Moin Container Terminal (TCM).

World Maritime News Staff, Image: ILWU