Panama: Improvements to Merchant Marine Services

A proposal has been made for issues related to merchant shipping abroad to be treated by an entity supported by the Maritime Authority and not by traditional consulates.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Separating the management of affairs of the merchant marine services from those provided by traditional consulates is the proposal submitted to the Panamanian Maritime Law Association (APADEMAR). The lawyer who drafted the proposal believes that "... currently, the consuls of traditional Foreign Ministry services have been commissioned to run the business of registering flags. But the results have not been the best because it is not a political service. "

In an article on laestrella.com.pa, the maritime lawyer adds that "... there needs to be a reduction of the 46 Panamanian merchant marine consulates currently open to only six regional offices: New York, London, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong and Greece . "

"...Rubén Arosemena, director of AMP in the administration of Martin Torrijos, believes that registry of the maritime industry needs to be put in a competitive position. "Politicians need to understand that this area is subject to the law of supply and demand.'"

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