Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest…
Panama International Boat Show opens Friday
Panama’s 2nd annual International Boat Show is set to open this week, and local boat buyers and enthusiasts couldn’t be more excited. This is a relatively small show when compared to places like Miami, or New York, but its organizers hope to draw a regional crowd that sees Panama as an ideal place to both purchase, and dock their vessels.
A selection of boats from 20 to 100 feet — the latest sportfishing and cruising yachts, runabouts and tenders — will be on display. Noteworthy brands confirmed for the show include Azimut, Boston Whaler, Ferretti, Grady-White, Hatteras, Regal, Regulator and Scout.
“Buying a boat is a labor of love, which begins with determining the type of boat that will suit your needs, the size and the features,” Efrem “Skip” Zimbalist III, president of Show Management, the Fort Lauderdale-based company that organizes and produces the show, said at a recent press conference. “Once you have decided on the type of boat, the next step typically is getting on board and taking a test ride. That is difficult to do if few dealers don’t stock inventory and rely upon selling out of catalogs.”
Source: Trade Only Today
Panama Canal expansion will unleash huge supply of tonnage for all-water services
The Panama Canal expansion is not only set to increase ship traffic, but will also greatly increase the tonnage those ships can carry via Post-Panamax ships. This added space will mean big bucks for international shippers, and cut costs as it will reduce the number of ships each company has to send to get the required tonnage through the Panama Canal.
The opening of the third set of locks, currently set for April, will overnight unlock the canal to 45 percent of the total container ship fleet —1,331 ships representing roughly 10 million twenty-foot equivalent units of capacity that is in service or on order. That includes 980 ships of 5,400-9,999 TEUs and 149 ships of 10,000 TEUs or greater, according to an analysis by IHS Maritime & Trade. Combined with ships currently able to transit the canal, 87 percent of the world fleet in terms of total capacity will be Panama-canal capable while 157 ships totaling 2.7m TEU of fleet capacity (in service and on order) would be too large to transit the new canal.
Source: JOC.com
Apple Leisure Group inks new resort management deal in Panama
Resort growth has been huge in Panama over the last few years, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. Earlier this month the AMResorts group announced that they would be taking over the Intercontinental Playa Bonita Resort, and rebranding it under the name Secrets. And while the resort will remain relatively the same in looks and structure, they are planning on upgrading the service and style, to generate more revenue for future business.
The arrival of a branded, leisure resort option to the Panama travel market confirms the country’s significance as an emerging Central American vacation destination. Apple Leisure Group subsidiary, AMResorts, will increase its presence in Panama with the signing of a resort management agreement for Secrets Playa Bonita Panama. The deal introduces AMResorts’ adults-only Secrets Resorts & Spas brand to the region.
“Panama has become a premier destination for luxury experiential travel, making it a perfect fit for our award-winning brand, Secrets Resorts & Spas,” said Alex Zozaya, CEO of Apple Leisure Group.
Source: The Visitor/El Visitante
Panama Takes a Big Step Toward Clean Energy With Solar Power
Energy demand is skyrocketing in Panama, and the country has been working at a breakneck pace to provide adequate supply. This month, they got another piece of the puzzle in place by going online with clean, solar energy, thanks to an Italian energy company called Enel Green Power. In one of our latest blog posts, we go over the details of the solar project, and how it can help Panama’s energy needs for the future.
It’s no secret that the Panamanian government has been pushing for clean, renewable energy sources for a while now. Currently, almost all of Panama’s power comes from hydroelectric plants, with a new, massive one under construction (albeit with major delays and setbacks). Now, they are setting their sights on solar energy as a reliable, sustainable solution. All with the help of an Italian company called Enel Green Power.
Read more about Panama solar energy
