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Effective response to seafarers from 25 different countries
Panama makes the first Isthmic transhipment in the World, during the sanitary crisis of COVID-19 moving crews from the Pacific to the Atlantic
“We are very proud to carry out the first “Isthmic Transhipment” operation in the world during the Coronavirus health crisis (COVID-19), which consists of about ninety-one (91) crew members, of around twenty-five (25) nationalities that were on board the Carnival Miracle Cruise in the Pacific sector were transported in the shipping company’s own tenders to the Flamenco Marina, in Amador, and then transferred by bus to the Colón 2000 terminal, in the sector of the Atlantic facilitating boarding the Carnival Glory Cruise to the Island of Curaçao to be able to be repatriated to their countries of origin, “said the Minister of Maritime Affairs, Arch. Noriel Araúz.
From the start of the pandemic until now, the AMP, through the use of embarkation and disembarkation protocols, has been able to contribute so that almost 4 thousand people (passengers and crew) from various nations and from different types of ships can safely return to their homes, in addition to Panamanian seafarers accessing job opportunities.
These statements were issued during the inspection carried out by Minister Araúz to the transhipment operation, where he added that these crew members are healthy and that since they entered our waters, at the beginning of last May, they have been monitored on a daily basis. by the doctors on board, supervised by MINSA, in coordination with the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) and the National Migration Service (SNM), in compliance with strict biosecurity protocols, without jeopardizing the sanitary integrity of the country.
We are providing a humanitarian and effective response to seafarers from twenty-five (25) nations, among which are: the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Haiti, who arrived in our jurisdictional waters in the ships: Carnival Miracle, Carnival Inspiration and Carnival Imagination, all from the Carnival Company Cruises, arriving from the west coast of the United States. The company had previously made ship-to-ship transfers of crew members, grouping them by nationality, to carry out the repatriations.
This operation is possible, thanks to the fact that our geographical position has unique characteristics and the advantages that we offer as a Logistics Hub, as well as to our maritime industries, a sector that is being boosted by capturing new revenues by providing essential services to these ships anchored in national waters.
“The new business niches are providing excellent results to the AMP, since when analysing the income figures for the first four months of 2020, they indicate that we have reached a growth of 3% above what was budgeted, there is also evidence of a financial increase in 4% over the same period of the year 2019, which is a very positive sample of the work that has been done, we are contributing to the National Treasury which is transformed into benefits for the entire nation, “concluded Minister Araúz.
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Since the start of the pandemic until now, the AMP, through the use of embarkation and disembarkation protocols, has been able to contribute so that almost 4 thousand people (passengers and crew) from various nations and from different types of ships can safely return to their homes, in addition to Panamanian seafarers accessing job opportunities.
