The Association of Panamanian Shipowners (ARPA) has become an associate member of the International Chamber of Shipping.
The move comes shortly after major shipowning nation China — represented by the Chinese Shipowners’ Association — joined the ICS earlier this year.
ARPA is still a relatively young association.
It was created in 2020 to bring together Panamanian shipowners and operators. Its aim is to strengthen Panama’s shipping industry and find solutions to collective issues.
ARPA is seeking to build on relationships across the international maritime sector on issues such as piracy, seafarer welfare and training, digitisation, automation and decarbonisation.
The new membership builds on established links between the ICS and Panama.
ICS secretary general Guy Platten said: “The Association of Panamanian Shipowners’ associate membership of ICS will help us to build on the great relationships we already have with Panama’s shipping industry. I look forward to working together to further our important work, from decarbonisation to digitisation, seafarer training and much more.”
There is also growing interest in Panama on the maritime industry’s contribution to decabonisation.
At COP27 in November last year, the government of Panama signed up to the Clean Energy Marine Hubs initiative to accelerate the production, export and import of low-carbon fuels across the world.
Jose Digeronimo, executive director of the Association of Panamanian Shipowners, said: “We expect that this membership will open communication channels between shipowners and member associations in the country that holds one of the largest and leading ship registries in the world, and will also benefit shipowners globally.”
Panama’s Arsenio Dominguez was recently elected as the new secretary general of the International Maritime Organization.
But, in a less positive development for Panama, it recently lost its position as the world’s largest flag state to Liberia.
