Venezuelan government vows to improve ports operations

State-run company Bolivariana de Puertos (Bolipuertos) is to set work commissions with shipping lines in order to improve operations in Venezuelan ports, following a meeting between the authorities and shipping lines representatives.

"New work commissions will be set in order to tackle and propose mechanisms for further approach between ports and its users, with the purpose of improving port operations and boosting economic development," Bolipuertos informed in a press release.

In the past few weeks, increasing complaints have been reported concerning the ill-functioning of Venezuelan ports, particularly those located in La Guaira (northern Vargas state) and Puerto Cabello (northern Carabobo state). Ships anchored for up to 20 days waiting for a dock, failures in the Automated Customs System (Sidunea), lack of machinery, and scarce coordination of the authorities, are some of the complaints.

The government expects to complete a modernization plan in the two main Venezuelan ports by December 2014.