In 2017, Panamanian ports handled 6.9 million containers, 10% more than in 2016.
According to figures from the Panama Maritime Authority, the largest growth in container movement was registered at the Cristobal port terminal, increasing from 793 thousand TEUs in 2016 to 1.3 million TEUs in 2017, which is equivalent to an increase of 65%.
On July 19 shipping companies, logistics and other sectors related to the port industry will be meeting in Panama to discuss issues and opportunities arising from the expanded canal.
The event, organized by the Maritime Authority of Panama, will be held at the Hotel Intercontinental Miramar, from 1 pm.
Anpanama.com reports that "....Among the topics to be discussed are: prospects for Panama's logistics sector after enlargement, adaptation and efficient management of Panamanian ports and the role of private enterprise in the new scenario, among other things."
The Maritime Authority of Panama is putting out to tender the supply and operation of an identification and tracking system for vessels in the ship registry and related services, for a 5 year term.
Panama Government Purchase 2016-2-03-0-08-LV-005 288:
"The Maritime Authority of Panama has convened this public meeting to receive suitable proposals from qualified suppliers to provide a design, delivery, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance for the Republic of Panama of a ship monitoring center (CMB by its initials in Spanish) which must have the functions and features described in the specification.
It has been announced that construction will soon start on the next container port concessioned to Panama Colon Container Port, a work which will need an investment of $900 million.
An article on Nacion.com reports that "... According to the company, the facilities will include a container yard with a capacity to handle up to 2.5 million TEUs per year, with 4 docks that will take up 1,200 meters of water front and it will be the first with the ability to accommodate Neo Panamax vessels."
In Panama the government has introduced a bill to provide tax, labor and immigration incentives for financial activities supporting the shipping business.
From the introduction of Bill 308:
"... Since 1993 the Panamanian registry crossed the threshold as being the world's largest shipping registry and from that date the Panamanian merchant fleet has been increasing, with reference to the years from January to November 2015 the Panamanian registry has increased by 136 ships, representing a 62% increase compared to 2014. Similarly, Panama has the largest tonnage of ships registered in the world with a fleet of 81 million tons making up almost 22% of total world tonnage and a total of more than 8,100 vessels registered under the Panamanian flag.
The movement of containers in domestic ports fell by 11% up to February, going from a million containers to 969,000 between 2015 and 2016.
The movement of containers in the National Port System measured by TEUs decreased by 11.7% during the first two months of 2016 compared to the same period last year, totaling 969,311 compared to 1,097,902 recorded in the previous period.
In 2015 3.7 million metric tons of marine fuel were sold in Panama, 16.2% more than in 2014.
According to preliminary figures from the Maritime Authority of Panama, of the 3.7 million metric tons of marine fuel sold in 2015, 3.4 million were Fuel Oil and 252,521 Marine Diesel Oil. The number of ships catered for also increased, going from 4,699 in 2014 to 5,699 in 2015, reflecting an increase of 21.2%.
The amount of containers transported went up by 5% between 2014 and 2015, while freight movement in tonnes grew by 7% in the same period.
According to the Maritime Authority of Panama, the only items that showed a negative percentage rate when comparing the months of January and February 2014 and 2015 were the movement of cruise passengers and the movement of vehicles.
The maritime union is opposed to the decision of the Maritime Port Authority to suspend the licensing for service provisioning and transport of fuel.
The only companies exempt from the measure are those with an existing direct contract with any oil company, according to the letter sent by Gerardo Varela, General Director of Ports and Auxiliary Maritime Industries at the AMP, to the Maritime Chamber of Panama, shipping companies and users of the entity.
The Maritime Port Authority is planning to build two docks for the auxiliary maritime services industry, one in the province of Colon and another in that of Panama.
Taking an old aspiration of the auxiliary maritime services sector, plans are underway for construction of docks on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. This project had been previously discussed, but the areas chosed for its construction were not available at that time.
Panama's National Assembly has passed a law which removes the restrictions imposed in 2013 on granting operating licenses to foreign companies for the provision of ancillary maritime services.
From a statement issued by the National Assembly of Panama:
The full Legislature approved on its third reading an initiative which fosters and promotes the auxiliary maritime industry, which is considered a pillar of development because of its contribution of 20% of gross domestic product and source of employment.
A resolution of the Maritime Authority of Panama forces maritime concessionaires to devote to social projects a percentage of the investment amount stated in the contract.
The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) has adopted a resolution whereby companies who sign contracts for maritime concessions are obliged to pay a "... fee which the concessionaire must provide by way of supporting social projects of the AMP in the concession contracts .... "
The Maritime Authority has implemented an electronic system that streamlines the process of flag registration and automates the application of economic incentives for newly registered boats.
This new way of applying economic incentives for newly constructed ships simplifies the process and eliminates "... the submission of a formal discount via memorial (before flag registration), the manual calculation of the amounts payable by ship which was done by the Directorate and sets out equal application of these incentives. "
From January 2015 companies that inspect and certify foreign ships under the Panamanian flag must be audited by the Maritime Authority so that the quality of services provided can be assessed.
From the resolution given by the Board of the Maritime Authority of Panama:
First article: order execution of an AUDIT PLAN for all auxiliary entities which are Recognized Organizations, Classification Societies and Recognized Security Organizations approved by the Republic of Panama, for the purpose of determining management, competition, means, capacity and quality of services, which will start from 2015, under the parameters of Resolution MSC.349 (92) adopted on July 21, 2013, Resolution No. 106-11-DGMM of March 16, 2009. ... And the international conventions ratified by the Republic of Panama.
The Panama Maritime Authority has authorized that from now on recording of original ship mortgages will be done in English, without the need to submit translations into Spanish.
From a statement issued by the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP):
The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) has hit a new milestone for the Panamanian Merchant Marine, having registered the first ship mortgage in the English language.