Five-Day Port Shutdown in Cancun, Cozumel Costs Nautical Sector Millions
Severe winds closed Quintana Roo ports (Cancun, Cozumel) for 5 days, causing a US$1.5mn loss to the nautical sector and halting 4,800 vessels. Ports partially reopened, but more restrictions feared.
Persistent strong southerly winds, known locally as a "surada," have forced the closure of key ports along Mexico's Caribbean coast in Quintana Roo for five days, bringing maritime navigation to a standstill and dealing a significant economic blow to the region's vital nautical sector.
The closures, implemented last Wednesday as winds consistently exceeded 40 kilometres per hour, affected major hubs including Isla Mujeres, Puerto Juárez, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, and the cruise ship destination of Cozumel. The primary aim was cited as preventing maritime incidents amid the adverse weather conditions.
The extended paralysis has resulted in accumulated losses estimated at US$1.5 million for the nautical sector, according to Ricardo Mulei ro López, director of the Nautical Associates of Quintana Roo (ANQR). "The activity was maintained in a paralysed state," Mr. López stated, highlighting the severe disruption.
He explained that operations began to be restricted last Wednesday, specifically halting the departure of cargo and passenger vessels bound for Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. This directly impacted the activity of 4,800 registered vessels operating under maritime authorities in the area.
The financial impact extends across the entire operational chain, Mr. López noted, affecting everything from ticketing revenues to commissions, as vessels remained docked.
While a tentative easing began late Sunday with partial reopenings in Isla Mujeres and Puerto Juárez, followed by the resumption of some operations in other ports by midday Monday, the situation remains precarious. Mr. López anticipates that only around 30 per cent of services might resume in the immediate coming hours.
However, weather forecasts cast a shadow over a swift return to normalcy. Authorities predict a high probability that the strong winds will intensify again in the coming days. This potential resurgence raises the prospect of renewed restrictions being imposed. "They will issue new restrictions, for which reason we must remain attentive to official information," Mr. López cautioned.
The disruption underscores the vulnerability of the region's tourism-dependent economy to weather events. The affected ports are critical conduits for tourist excursions, supply transport, and ferry services connecting the mainland to popular islands, making prolonged closures a serious concern for local businesses reliant on maritime traffic. Authorities continue to monitor the meteorological situation closely.
