Colonia Express faces port hurdles for new Montevideo-Buenos Aires route

Colonia Express is facing operational hurdles despite receiving authorization from Uruguay’s Ministry of Transport and Public Works to launch a direct route between Montevideo and Buenos Aires. The company planned to deploy the ‘Montevideo Express’, a catamaran capable of carrying 600 passengers, with service intended to begin in October.

The primary obstacle is a lack of physical infrastructure at the Port of Montevideo. Currently, Buquebus is the sole provider of this direct connection and utilizes a specific pontoon at the Maciel pier for vehicle boarding. Colonia Express requires access to this same infrastructure, as no alternative structures are currently available. Additionally, the pier faces dredging and maintenance issues that could require approximately US$30 million and several years to resolve.

In response to these delays, Colonia Express has launched a public petition on Change.org to demonstrate consumer demand for a more competitive and flexible transport alternative. The company’s director, Sebastián Planas, has indicated that the firm may pursue legal action against the Ministry and the National Port Administration (ANP) if authorities fail to provide the necessary conditions to exercise their operating permit.