Panama to Maintain Tariffs Against Colombia


News from Panama

The government has extended, until December 31 this year, the decree from August 2016 that temporarily increases import tariffs for flowers, coal, clinker and clothing. From a statement issued by the Presidency of Panama: The Cabinet has given approval to the extension of Executive Decree No. 001-17 which temporarily increases import tariffs on items such […]

February 13, 2017

Panama Canal Authority assures safety after report on wear


News from Panama

Here is another story on the issues of safety in the Panama Canal operations. The Panama Canal Authority insisted Thursday its new expanded locks are safe and handling increased traffic from the $5.25 billion expansion project inaugurated last June. The statement came a day after The Associated Press, citing captains who navigate the waterway, reported […]

February 13, 2017

Expanded Panama Canal still faces challenges


News from Panama

Loaded with more than 6,000 cargo containers, the ship Ever Living prepared for the final leg of its journey through the newly expanded Panama Canal when things hit a snag: The last of the massive steel lock doors failed to open all the way. The pilots controlling the ship and the captains of the tugboats […]

February 13, 2017

Odebrecht Bribes in Colombia Passed through Panama


News from Panama

An investigation carried out by the Public Ministry of Panama, concerning a ghost company of Odebrecht provided information for the corruption scandal that shakes Colombia, publishes today daily La Estrella de Panama. Last January 24, the seventh prosecutor anticorruption district, Alexandra Vence, asked the Public Registry for data on companies Punto Fa S.A. and Lurion […]

February 13, 2017

Panama: Certification of Organic Food


News from Panama

Panama has finally reached the point where it understands the importance of organic products here. Through a new unit at the MIDA, the government will provide certification, according to international standards, for farms in the country growing organic crops. Besides the option provided by the new Control Authority of Certification of Organic Agricultural Production, which […]

February 13, 2017

Fully Autonomous Ships Almost Here


News from Panama

The Navy has been operating some smaller vessels and we will soon see larger vessels enter the market.  Here is an article by Mish Shedlock the discussion includes the loss of jobs in the industry. In response to Amazon Enters Trillion Dollar Ocean Freight Business: How Many Jobs Will Vanish? a reader commented fully autonomous […]

February 13, 2017

David Loe: Cruising the Panama Canal


News from Panama

This is a very cool story of David’s planed cruise to enjoy Central America and watch the Super Bowl on the poolside 300 foot screen on board Princess Cruise. There are quite a few Panama Canal cruises that leave Los Angeles or San Diego in the winter months. I selected this itinerary for a very […]

February 13, 2017

Spilling the Beans on Wanted.Coffee


News from Panama

These guys have a great idea and like the wine of the month club, they are exploiting a huge new trend. Wanted.Coffee has launched an online subscription club service to allow discerning coffee connoisseurs across the UK and Ireland to receive a micro-lot of coffee direct to their door every month. Martin Symington, local entrepreneur […]

February 7, 2017