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In the News from Panama

Panama Will Operate Amador Cruise Port

More details continue to emerge about the new cruise port on Amador Causeway, which is moving from the conceptual stage to reality.

This week the Panama Maritime Authority announced that the government will manage the new facility, ending speculation that a third-party operator may be hired. Cruise operators said they prefer a government-run facility, rather than a concession, due to concerns a private company might raise rates, said Jorge Barakat, administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority.

While the details of the concession deal may not be headline news, it provides further evidence of the advanced state of plans to build the cruise ship port on Perico Island. After years of discussions and false starts, the cruise ship terminal is moving forward as part of an ambitious plan to develop Amador into a recreation and second home destination.

The bidding process has already started to find a company to design and build the terminal, with bids due Jan. 16, La Prensa reports. Perico, one of the islands that make up the picturesque causeway, has been identified as an ideal location to handle the ships, which should spur more investment in Amador.

The Maritime Authority will work with the Port of Hamburg, which uses a similar system, to train staff and develop infrastructure to operate the terminal, the newspaper reports. Barakat said there are 100 vendors available to handle different tasks within the terminal.

“These services cannot be monopolized by a single company that can make agreements to have more direct access to infrastructure to the detriment of others,” he said.