Shipping to and from Costa Rica

If you want to know where to return your Container Yard Merchant haulage (CY) container please click here.
Drop-off locations of empty import containers in Puerto Caldera.

All DRY containers (20STD, 40STD, 40HC, 45HC) and special containers (Flat Rack, Open Top):
Depot: ALAMO
Address: Uvita de Orotina. 1,5km South from Abopac intersection, Kilómetro 87, Ruta 27.
Open hours:

• Monday to Friday from 06:00 to 18:00
• Saturday from 08:00 to 11:00
• Sunday closed

All Reefer containers:
Depot: RADA Caldera
Address: Uvita de Orotina, 75m East of the Costanera gas station.
Open hours:

• Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 21:00
• Saturday from 08:00 to 12:00
• Sunday closed

Drop-off locations of empty import containers in Puerto Moin.

DRY containers (20STD, 45HC) and all Reefer containers:
Depot: RADA Moin
Address: 800m West from Revision Tecnica Vehicular, Bufalo, Limon
Tel. +50625206413
Mail: imp.exp@apmterminals.com
Open hours:

• Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 04:00
• Saturday from 08:00 to 21:00
• Sunday closed

DRY containers (40STD, 40HC) and special containers (Flat Rack, Open Top)
Depot: Terminal de Contenedores de Moin (APM - TCM) Address: Moin, Limon, Ruta 257 exit
Tel. +50627982768
Mail: TCM.ServicioalCliente@apmterminals.com
Open hours:

• 24/7 for pick up

To drop-off to APM - TCM trucker must make an appointment in the terminal system (TERMpoint) using the following ERO numbers:

• Special containers: ERORADA200719
• DRY containers: ERO2022

Please refer to below APM - TCM manual to create TERMpoint appointments.
Please refer to Manual below to learn how to create an appointment in TCM using the TERMpoint system.

Standard free time - Import
Port / terminal Names : All Ports
Valid from : 1st December 2023
Charge type : Demurrage and Detention combined
Transport mode : All transport modes
Service mode : All service modes

Import, Costa Rica as Destination (Effective from 1st December 2023)

General Demurrage & Detention Information.

• Free time, demurrage, and detention terms apply to the country where the Empty unit is gated-in by the customer or at the location designated by the carrier.
• Demurrage & Detention combined | from discharge of Full unit at terminal/ depot to gate in Empty return of the unit at terminal/depot.
• Charges in USD per calendar day (including weekends and holidays).
• Maersk uses a Progressive method to calculate demurrage and detention charges after the free time expires. For customers with special agreements, exceeding the extended free time will incur demurrage and detention charges based on the relevant day count within our tiered tariff structure. This means that subsequent charges beyond the extended free time will not automatically be calculated using the first-tier rates. Discharge Date is considered the starting point for calculating demurrage and detention combined.

Free Time.

• Intermodal Free Time: Free time conditions are the same for both Carrier and Merchant Haulage. The Free Time period begins on the discharge date of the full unit and ends upon the gate-in of the empty unit to the terminal or depot assigned by the carrier.
• Hazardous cargo receives the same free time conditions as dry units. However, responsibility for the handling and storage of hazardous cargo at terminals and depots remains with the cargo owners.
• Non-Operating Reefer (NOR): DRY equipment (40DRY includes 8'6 & 9'6) free days and per diem conditions applies to NORs. NOR with Hazardous Cargo will be treat as DRY.

Equipment Types.

• Dry Equipment refers to 20-foot Dry, 40-foot Dry, 40-foot High-Cube, 45-foot Dry, and Reefer units (20'RF, 40'RF, and 40'RH). Special equipment includes Open Tops, Flat Racks, and Out-of-Gauge cargo. SOC Equipment refers to equipment owned by the merchant/shipper. COC refers to equipment owned by the carrier.
• Shipper-owned containers (SOC) are not subject to detention but are subject to storage and demurrage charges.

Special Conditions.

• Spot conditions may differ from the conditions mentioned above. Maersk Spot (instant booking system) conditions are available in the downloadable document provided Here, which supersedes any separately agreed-upon terms. If you have any doubts, please check with the shipper or your local agents to confirm the booking/shipment modality you used. Link to downloadable document.
• Demurrage and Detention charge applied to any given shipment depends to the PCD: Price Calculation Date (PCD). The following factors should be considered as guidance.
  • PCD for non-FMC shipments – The date when the carrying vessel is scheduled to depart from the Port of Loading.
  • PCD for FMC regulated trades – The date when Maersk Line takes possession of the last container listed on the transport document. This affects the Demurrage and Detention special free time. You will need to negotiate and mutually agree on the specifics before or on the Price Calculation Date.

Other Important Information.

• D&D Calculator Click here to know more about it
• Terminal storage charges may apply, nevertheless, those are charged directly by Terminal Operator.
• Terminal plug-in and electricity charges may apply; however, these charges are billed directly by the Terminal Operator.
• The Shipper assumes, prior to the shipowner, the contractual and legal duty to export/ship their cargo to a Consignee who has a genuine interest and the necessary conditions to acquire/receive the imported cargo. The Shipper is responsible for promoting the effective removal of the cargo at the destination and fulfilling all obligations associated with this act. If the cargo is abandoned at its destination or if the Consignee fails to remove it for any reason, the Shipper shall be jointly and severally liable, together with the Consignee, for all amounts, costs, expenses, damages, or losses incurred by the carrier as a result of this situation.

Mandatory for Customs

After, all BL changes must be notified to manifest Team, to check if Customs formal process must be created.
Seal number is mandatory.
For Import, BL type can only be Negotiable Bill of Lading.
All customers should sent manifest instructions through a Local Form, with all details regarding manifest of their cargo.

Import procedures

• Customers will require Rated Original Bill of Lading for Customs clearance.
• Once the Arrival Notification has been received, the customer must send the instructions to our manifest team stating which kind of import procedure will be used, using this form.
• If customer doesn't have a credit agreement with Maersk, the payment must be done in advance through the bank account # 50203-1 (Local currency) or #50203-2 (USD) in Davivienda Bank, or by transfer to the account: 10400000502030111 (Local currency) or 10400000502030126 (USD).
• If customer already has a credit agreement with Maersk, no additional procedure is needed at this stage.

"Anticipado"

This is the procedure where customer requests to pay taxes in advance.

• Customer should send an instruction using this form , requesting Maersk to manifest the “anticipado” to customs
• Customer must pay the taxes to customs through a Customs Agency and present all the required documents.
• Once Customs authorizes the release of the cargo, the customer can then request the haulage of the container, sending an e-mail to our Import department (Cr.import@maersk.com) including information regarding final destination of the cargo. The customer needs to settle collect charges for Maersk to proceed with the haulage.
• For Carrier Haulage cargo, there is an extra charge of USD100.00 per container as a local charge associated to this handling at port, in case there is a DUA Rojo, there will be a charge of $100/per container to move units to a local depot for inspection.

Para solicitud de digitaciones y tramites anticipados, por favor de click aqui

"Desalmacenaje en puerto"

This is an Internal Transport Document, which allows the movement of the container from the port to a bonded warehouse inside the port jurisdiction.

• Specify the Bonded Warehouse where the container will be moved to.
• Customer must pay the taxes to customs through a Customs Agency and present all the required documents.
• Once Custom authorizes the release of the cargo, the customer can then request the haulage of the container, sending an e-mail to our Import department (Cr.import@maersk.com) including information regarding final destination of the cargo.

"Guias de Redestino"

This is an Internal Transport Document, which allows the movement of the container from the port to a bonded warehouse outside the port locations.

• Specify the Bonded Warehouse where the container will be moved.
• For Carrier Haulage cargo, customer must inform us once the DUA is presented at our container yard and confirm by email (Cr.import@maersk.com) the instructions to move the containers to the final destination (bonded warehouse or customer’s facilities)
• For all import cargo, it is a requirement to present an original set of the BLs into our office so the release of the cargo can be processed. This requirement does not apply for NVOCC's.

To request your empty container pick up for Store Door (SD) positionings please click here.

Acceptance restriction imo 1.0 to 1.9, no exception handling.

Shark fin/shark meat cannot be imported to Costa Rica.

Requirement

Telex release figure not feasible in Costa Rica.