They denounce direct contracting, in the AMP, of a company to inspect ships with the Panamanian flag

A complaint against the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), for an alleged direct contracting of an external company to inspect Panamanian-flagged ships when they dock at ports in Panama, was made by lawyer Guillermo Márquez Amado, who assured that this type of contract is “unusual and highly suspicious.”

Márquez Amado said that although it is true, Panama has international commitments, contained in treaties. that require the State to guarantee the world that Panamanian-registered vessels comply with a series of safety conditions, such as fire, pollution and ship safety, there had never been a case of outsourcing for this purpose since the Panamanian Merchant Marine has this personnel that can carry out the inspection in the national territory.

“All ships have a shipping agent on board, it is not necessary to hire an external company to carry out these inspections,” he said, assuring that hundreds of thousands of dollars are being contracted annually so that a company, which was hired go directly to visit Panamanian ships in ports of Panama.

“It is not necessary for it to happen, for me this form of direct contracting is highly suspicious,” he said.