SHIPPING SERVICES
Flor Torrijos, Panama Maritime Lawyers. The Directors are: Alex Orillac, Isthmus Bureau of Shipping (IBS); Daniel Isaza, Interoceanic Cargo Carrier (Panama); Jocelyne Anchor, International Repair Services and Juan Carlos Croston, Manzanillo International Terminal. The Chamber of Shipping is now an
important player in the market, and is achieving worldwide recognition as a leader in the maritime sector. Its young new president, Jose Digeronimo, has made it his goal to finalise all legal matters for formal creation of the Ship Owners’ chapter that will operate under the Chamber of Shipping. The Chamber has reformed its organisational chart to include an International Commission made up of ship owners and managers that flag their vessels in Panama. For their first assignment, the group is participating in a tripartite commission with the AMP and the OIT Maritime, to jointly implement the new labour regulations. ‘The Ship Owners’ chapter will operate
as an association within the Chamber of Shipping and will serve as the ship owners’ link with the government, in particular with the AMP and the Ship Registry,’ says Digeronimo. ‘We are currently drafting the by-laws for the
W
ärtsilä is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the
marine and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2010, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled €4.6bn with more than 17,500 employees. The company has operations in 160 locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä Panama, S.A. (WPA) is a fully-
owned subsidiary of Wärtsilä Corporation, a Finnish engineering company focusing on the marine and energy markets with products, solutions and services. Located at the special industrial area of Panama Pacifico, in the former Howard Air Force base ‘Wärtsilä Panama, from 2006 to this date, has seen a consistent growth represented by our 30 employees all specialised in their working areas,’ says Wärtsilä Panama president and Central America service unit director, Kari Herala. In line with Wärtsilä Corporate Business Strategy to increase its availability and maximise ‘the efficiency of the services we provide to our customers; the principal offices and workshops located within the Central America Area have joined creating the Central America Service Unit, looking
58 Kari Herala – Wärtsilä Panama president
forward to expand our technical expertise and coverage of customers everywhere in the region.’ ‘Each of the integrated network
companies now brings in their specialties to the benefit of our customers in the whole Central America. Mexico has a long experience in the offshore industry, while Guatemala has build a strong expertise in the power plant market. We have been able to comply with our current main objective of working together and centralise our services through the creation of a Field Service Operation Centre. In the three networks, there will now be 60 well trained engineers. We are optimising our resources and offering efficient spare parts deliveries, competent people and
first class workshop facilities, both for our marine and power plant customers,’ explains Herala. In Panama, ‘we have encountered an
excellent location for us to manage our services offer for the Central America Region, due to many facts such as excellent location, hub terminal, business and financial Centre, among others to continue bidding for the many contracts tendered by the Panama Canal Authority. Also, the inauguration in 2014 of the third set of Panama Canal Locks allowing the waterway to double its capacity will increase the number of vessels transiting the Canal and Wärtsilä will be there, well prepared, also for this increased market demand,’ ends Kari Herala.
PANAMA MARITIME REVIEW 2011/12
Chapter, including the establishment of an annual member fee per company which will require a modification of the Chamber of Shipping’s statutes.’ The initiative has received full support
from the AMP and its administrator Roberto Linares, says Digeronimo who also has been lecturing at different universities on chartering, maritime economy and bunkering operations since 1999. ‘I like it because I can identify the future actors of the domestic maritime sector,’ he explains. ‘This year the Panama Chamber of
Shipping is launching a massive international campaign to offer international companies and shipowners the opportunity to apply for membership,’ he explains. The benefits are numerous and including receiving support on multiple business issues including representation, regulation affecting the industry and a vast number of other factors affecting national shipping. Traditionally the Chamber of Shipping
has been a national association serving the local maritime cluster, however the role has evolved to not only become a listening post and think-tank, but also a forum to ensure a correct legal, regulatory and procedural climate, so
Wärtsilä: whenever, wherever
that businesses may continue to develop and prosper.
Every two years, the Chamber of
Shipping together with the Panama Maritime Law Association (PMLA), co- organises the popular Panama Maritime Conference. Panama Maritime X took place over February 13-16, 2011, at Hotel Riu, under the auspices of organising committee president Jose Digeronimo. It was a real success for both the conference and exhibition, which saw involvement by the largest number of companies in the maritime sector worldwide. For the next Panama Maritime XI, in 2013, the president of the organising committee is lawyer Tomas Avila – a former PMLA president.
Bunkering Panama is preparing for the inauguration in 2014 of the Panama Canal expansion that will bring a third set of larger and longer locks, allowing the passage of post-Panamax vessels. Acoordingly, the bunker centre is also expanding with the arrival of new players and will complement Panama’s role as a transhipment leader in Latin America. The country’s ideal location and the fact that about 14,000 vessels transit the
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