Panama will reactivate the services of the Balboa Shipyard to attend the international maritime market and also with the purpose of generating sources of employment, while the bidding process for its concession is being structured, informed the Minister of Maritime Affairs, Noriel Araúz.
“The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) will take over the administration of the Balboa Shipyard on a temporary basis and we call on all companies interested in providing their services to approach the Department of Concessions, of the General Directorate of Ports and Auxiliary Maritime Industries, since we are currently working on a figure called Area Space Concession with the purpose that the services are not stopped, this figure is provisional until the tender is ready,” said Araúz.
The Balboa Shipyard is located in the Pacific zone and is the only facility in Panama and in the region that has three (3) dry docks which have the necessary dimensions to attend Panamax vessels; for this reason, it is considered a very important asset for the auxiliary maritime industry.
So far there are two (2) companies interested in providing these provisional services, one wishes to rent the area of the pit and the other the dock area, there are many provisional spaces that will be in force until the bidding is completed, this decision is part of the institution’s constant search for projects that promote the logistics hub, through which activities that contribute to boost the country’s economy and job creation are launched, said the institution in a press release.
The reactivation of the Balboa shipyard will generate important direct and indirect jobs, and is composed of three (3) dry docks: dock one (1) has the size of a Panamax vessel 318 m x 33.6 m (currently out of operations); dock two (2) measures 130 m x 25.9 m for smaller vessels such as barges and dock three (3) has a dimension of 70 m x16.8 m.
The maritime sector requires the reactivation of this asset, which with its implementation would expand the services we provide as a Nation, thus generating the economic reactivation we all yearn for. We have the necessary tools and professionals to provide this activity, said Araúz.
“We are focused on the search for new business opportunities as well as in the reactivation of the existing ones, which in other administrations were not given the necessary attention, to transform and enhance them in an appropriate manner for the benefit of the country,” concluded Minister Araúz.
Source: ANPanamá
