Norwegian cruise cancels operations in Panama, after monopoly

Norwegian Cruise Line cruise company had its debut and farewell this year in Panama. Sandy Cohen, a representative of Norwegian Cruise Line, reported on local radio that the cruise line’s operations, which take Panama as its port of departure (home port), will only arrive until December, as the company has canceled itineraries for 2024 and 2025.

“That’s right, Norwegian has planned this season and the last cruise now departs in March. From there it goes all the way to December, when one ship arrives to do the Panama-Miami itinerary, and that’s it. The thing is, until 2024 they planned to send cruises again and it was canceled. At least it will be like that until 2024 and 2025,” said Sandy Cohen, a representative of Norwegian Cruise Line on a local radio show.

Cohen did not specify the reason why the cruise line suspended operations in Panama, citing several problems such as a ladder falling at the cruise port in Amador with tourists. He said that to date no formal apology has been received from either the Government or the Minister of Tourism.

It is true that last year the cruise ship union already warned of the suspension of operations in Panama after the Panamanian Maritime Authority (AMP) forced its ships to be fueled by a single company: MONJASA.

A total of 23 cruise ships signed a warning letter before the Panamanian Maritime Authority (AMP) and the National Immigration Service, as another of the levies included new measures for ship crews.

Last December, Colón 2000, the operator of Panamanian cruise ports, was authorized by AMP to grant MONJASA exclusivity in the supply of fuel.

Michael T. MacNamara, vice president of fuel supply for the Carnival Group, emailed the AMP administrator in December asking for mediation to allow fuel supply to open, as shipping companies negotiate and contract bunker supply months in advance, except works with reliable suppliers to maintain quality control.

McNamara warned Araúz that “restrictions of this nature do not help the recovery of bunker business in the region and add complexity and cost overruns to their operations in the region.”

He even asked AMP to encourage open access to all duly authorized bunker service providers in Panama, to allow them to supply bunkers to cruise ships at both the Amador Terminal and Colón 2000.” The demands of the cruise lines were not met and MONJASA the job was held.

MONJASA is a well-known company of AMP administrators. In the past, the barge María del Carmen VI was granted an operating license to ship fuel, despite complaints filed alleging that the vessel did not meet the minimum age for this service, endangering Panamanian shores.

One of the directors of one of the MONJASA companies, Pablo Torres Chong, is also not unknown to the circles of the ruling PRD party. Torres is a cousin of pro-government deputy Ricardo Torres. In addition, just a few days ago, on November 22, Pablo Torres was appointed to the board of directors of Monjas Chartering, according to documents from the Public Registry.

MONJASA is closely related to Torres Chong’s company Stward Inc. Documentation on the AMP website states that the vessel MONJASA Strikcer is part of the fleet of Steward Oil, SA, a local bunker supplier, according to AMP.

This association of people involved in the business leads to the lawyer Alberto López Tom, who admitted a direct connection to the MONJASA operation. But he is not aware that he has any contact with Torres and other illegal operations that have been exposed on social media and which mention Jorge Rubén Camargo Clarke, alias Cholo Chorrillo, recently extradited to the United States for alleged drug trafficking.

Steward Inc is also favored with several million dollars worth of contracts at AMP, such as direct contracts for AMP shipping service, whose payments come from SEGUMAR accounts in Miami. It’s the rampant addiction AMP has overseas with a bank account to pay for parties, travel, private transport and now special contracts.