Kongsberg Maritime Opens New Office in Panama

Kongsberg Maritime has established a new country office in the Republic of Panama.

Opened in January 2016 and situated in the ‘Canal Zone’ close to Panama City, Kongsberg Maritime Panama will service merchant fleet customers transiting the canal and the extensive tug sector in the region, in addition to providing support for on-going or planned land reclamation dredging and new port and terminal construction projects.

The set-up and management of Kongsberg Maritime Panama is carried out by Mr. Peter Pigmans, closely supported by the Kongsberg Maritime office in New Orleans.

This new office is an important addition to Kongsberg Maritime’s worldwide service network. We are located in a merchant fleet hotspot, with good opportunities to carry out complex jobs, if necessary, on the anchorages – without disturbance during cargo operations,” said Peter.

The 77km long Panama Canal, which connects the Pacific Ocean with the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, is one of the most important commercially operated waterways in the world.

Between 30-40 container ships, tankers, bulk- and car-carriers, plus occasional cruise ships transit the canal every day. Traffic is set to increase in the near future, as the ‘Third Set of Locks‘ project, better known as the ‘Canal Expansion’, is scheduled for completion in April 2016.

Panama has seen rapid economic growth over the last decade and is one of the most politically stable countries in the region. There have been great improvements in infrastructure and logistics and there is a positive atmosphere,” adds Peter.

The corresponding new Panamax dimensions for vessels passing will be 366 meters longitude, 49 meters width and a draft of 15.2 meters; therefore, the tonnage capacity of the canal will be more than doubled.

Several ports in the Americas have been adapted accordingly to this new capacity.