The Azteca Ferries ferry, which will operate between Ensenada and San Diego, will arrive this Friday at the port of San Diego as part of the process leading up to commercial operation, confirmed Kurt Honold Morales, Secretary of Economy and Innovation of Baja California.
The vessel has capacity for 330 passengers and will be transferred to Ensenada to begin local operations. The Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR) awarded the project to the company Azteca Ferries, which will invest 100% privately in the operation of this new international maritime route.
The state government has obtained all the necessary permits in both Mexico and the United States, including procedures with Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the state of California, and environmental and security authorities in both countries.
The Ensenada ASIPONA will be equipped with customs and immigration modules so passengers can complete their procedures before boarding. This will allow for the inspection of luggage, merchandise, and documentation on round-trip journeys.
Although the exact start date has not yet been confirmed, state officials indicated that the concessionaire will determine when the crossings will begin. Additionally, it is estimated that the one-way ticket will cost between $50 and $60 USD, including port fees.
Once the ferry arrives in Ensenada, an Azteca Ferries representative may be available to answer questions about the ferry service, Honold indicated.
In addition to its capacity for 330 passengers, the roll-on/roll-off ferry will offer trips of approximately 2–2.5 hours between San Diego and Ensenada, covering a distance of approximately 111 km.
Azteca Ferries has already published the tentative schedules on its website, which include two daily trips:
San Diego → Ensenada: 11:30–2:30 and 7:00–9:30
Ensenada → San Diego: 7:00–9:30 and 3:00–5:30
The ferry will have onboard amenities such as air conditioning, outdoor areas, Wi-Fi, a cafeteria, and restrooms. Service pets will be allowed, and accessibility will be provided for people with disabilities.
Azteca Ferries also noted that each passenger will be responsible for their immigration procedures before the trip, as the company will not be responsible for lack of documentation.
Source: sandiegored
