SHIPPING SERVICES
opportunities for ship chandlers to increase their business, although it is a ‘very competitive and demanding market’ because cruise ships still buy most of their products in the United States. However, chandlers have been active in promoting their products where the ‘customer-supplier is relationship forged over years of confidence, trust and specialisation,’ they say. Centralam Panama, S.A. is strategically
and conveniently located inside the Processing Zone at Corozal West only five minutes from the gate to the Port of Balboa and three minutes from the toll- road connecting the Pacific side of the Isthmus with the Caribbean side. Additionally, Centralam also maintains a warehouse in the Colon Free Zone as a
188 representative offices around the world. Panama Maritime Group was created by Dr. Hugo Torrijos Richa, a pioneer in the promotion of Panama’s maritime sector who passed away in November 2010. His widow, Magali Torrijos is now at
P
the helm of the group which includes the following companies: Panama Maritime Documentation Services Inc. (PMDS) that performs surveys and statutory certification under the scope of national laws and regulations and international conventions; the law firm Torrijos & Associates (T&A) for offshore incorporations, ships registration and legal consultancy; and Marine Training & Certification Centre (MTCC) that is providing training to seafarers and related services with custom-designed programs and technicians, both at customers’ locations or PMG’s. The Group also incorporates International Maritime Inspectors (IMI) and Panama Maritime Surveyors (PMS), both companies providing Annual Safety Inspections and Special Safety Inspections, following the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP)’s guidelines in order to obtain or renew required AMP's annual trading certificates, ship registration and radio license. In 2010, PMDS received
confirmation that it was approved by China’s Maritime Safety Administration [MSA] as Recognised Organisation (RO) to operate in China. Chinese regulatory approval allows Panamanian ROs to conduct surveys at Chinese ports. Chinese regulations are very strict, notes PMDS’ new gm Capt Jose Delgado, but since China is the fourth largest market for the Panama Registry
PANAMA MARITIME REVIEW 2011/12
anama Maritime Group (PMG) headquartered in Panama, has over
front post to provide a short response time for the Atlantic side customers. Centralam Panama is one of the oldest
players in the market and amongst the more experienced and well consolidated, which had proved to be of great help during the recent crisis. ‘We had a couple of very good years after we moved from our previous facility until the 2008 crisis started to hurt the entire shipping community. But with hard efforts from the entire team of employees, we managed to reef the sails in time to weather the storm,’ says Centralam gm, Erik Moller Nielsen, a graduated Danish master mariner. During the 2008-2009 crises, various initiatives were initiated and new business opportunities were discovered
and various shipping lines it also mean a large market for conducting surveys at Chinese ports. Since Dr. Hugo Torrijos passed away before being able to travel to China, Magali Torrijos accompanied by Capt Jose Delgado went to Beijing in April 2011 to have PMDS officially noticed as MSA’s approved RO and allowed to open a subsidiary in China. Both Magali Torrijos, a lawyer herself
and now president of Panama Maritime Group, and Capt Jose Delgado took the opportunity to visit customers in Ukraine and Dubai and expand activities with the signature of several agreements with marine services agents and law firms in Eastern Europe, where PMDS has representations in St. Petersburg, Odessa, Constanza, Rumania, and Dubai. The Panama Maritime Group has
opened branches of its training centres worldwide to increase the participation of trainees and seafarers on Panama-
and developed in the company’s constant efforts to diversify their activities to become more than a ‘simple’ chandler. Their efforts were slowly rewarded in the results from the second quarter of 2010 and onward. ‘The turn-over got back to the levels before the crisis, and though profits were still down, we were confident we could spot the glowing light through the dense fog experienced during the last couple of years,’ continues Nielsen. The company closed 2010 with sales and turn-over above the previous year and during 2011, putting Centralam Panama, S.A. back at full steam ahead with increased activity levels and double digit increases in turn-over. The company’s management,
however, is afraid the present pace may Panama Maritime Documentation Services
flagged vessels, by providing proper training and enlarging PMG’s network of instructors around the world. It has also renewed part of its
technical staff formed by two sea captains and two naval architects and have refreshed and updated seminars and training courses to include MLC2006 and all conventions, for over 40 surveyors locally and abroad. ‘As we represent the Panama Flag
and other registries, including Belize Registry, we want to maintain our personnel and agents highly qualified and knowledgeable of all the latest regulations approved by the IMO,’ says Capt Delgado. ‘The key to the success of the Panama Maritime Group has been its excellence in services and expertise on maritime affairs, admiralty, company’s management, mercantile, certificates and documents and we are committed to maintain this leadership,’ says Magali Torrijos.
Magali Torrijos and Capt Jose Delgado with Yungyi Zgang, from MSA, in Beijing 61
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