Recently Cato's video production team traveled to Puerto Rico and visited the “Puerto de Las Américas.” Puerto Rico poured $285 million to turn this port into a major transshipment hub for the container trade but the expectation that ocean carriers would take advantage of a new, centrally located Caribbean facility has not panned out. So far the port is mostly empty, unable to attract much business from ocean carriers. It is a virtual ghost town. Analysts point to the Jones Act as a reason for the port’s lack of appeal to carriers.
