Short-sea shipping potentials in Central America to bridge infrastructural gaps

Abstract

This paper addresses the situation of transport infrastructure in Central America, which poses issues of insufficiency, high-costs and lack of an integrated vision in a geographic region that is exposed to vulnerabilities due to its geological, geomorphologic and climatic conditions. The major efforts for regional integration with joint infrastructure in place seem to meet the criteria of high prioritization on ground transport and non-diversification of risk. This paper features the characteristics of the area and the potentiality of short-sea shipping to cover infrastructure deficits and the need for a more integrated planning of transport infrastructure services with better conditions to improve the regional economy competitiveness and the economic growth.

Acknowledgements

Our special thanks to Alan Harding, Britta Wilmsmeier and Diego Sepúlveda-Whitte aswell to two anonymous reviewers, for their constructive comments and suggestions. The opinions and any remaining errors are obviously the authors’ responsibility.