A Panamanian shipping line, Ferry Xpress, is about to start a ferry service between Colón in Panamá and Cartagena in Colombia. It will be the second attempt to link these two countries by ferry. Though the first endeavour failed, the operator is confident about the success on this occasion, citing that this time round the company will be directly managed by the port itself.Alan Lam reports.

Moreover, this will be the only significant transport connection, both cargo and passenger, between the two neighbouring countries, besides the air link, as the Pan American Highway does not connect Colombia with Panamá on account of the untamable Darién Gap. For this reason alone this maritime enterprise is deemed to be commercially viable.

Up till now, overland travellers between South and Central America have had to - at the mercy of unscrupulous operators - rely on the precarious motorboat services from Capurganá in Colombia to Puerto Obaldia in Panamá, from there they have had to find a flight to the capital, as there is no road. Not too long ago, this correspondent endured that journey; the experience can be summed up as both unsafe and uncomfortable.

Commencing 24 October this year, the new ropax service will initially depart from Colón, the homeport, on Mondays and Wednesdays and return from Cartagena on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The journey time will be about 18 hours.

What is truly interesting is that, in addition to the ferry service, the ship - the 1986-built SNAV Adriatico that is currently being prepared for the service – will also undertake a weekly mini-cruise, setting sail every Friday night from Colón to Isla Colón in Bocas del Toro, a popular resort island in Central America. The demand for this cruise is largely untapped. Colombia-Panama ferry service to open 24 October