The Republic of Panama signs agreements with Antigua and Barbuda

The Republic of Panama represented by the The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) signed Key Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with the Republic of Antigua and Barbuda, Regarding the recognition of the qualifications of Panamanian officers by the Maritime Administration of Antigua and Barbuda and the strengthening of their cooperation in the port and logistics sectors by establishing formulas that achieve an integration of the respective interests.

The signed letters of intent are as follows: a. Mutual recognition of training and certification under regulation I/10 of the International Convention on Training Standards, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (1978 STCW Convention, as amended), with the purpose that the certifications of Panamanian officers are recognized by the Maritime Administration of Antigua and Barbuda.

This important alliance will allow Panamanian seafarers to serve aboard ships registered under the Antigua and Barbuda flag, increasing the national workforce and in turn strengthening technical cooperative relationships between governments.

Cooperation agreement that will create a framework for cooperation and joint action between the two countries in the port and logistics sector. It will promote cooperation between both nations in these key sectors of the economy, which will encourage the development of activities that optimize management and promote complementarity between ports.

On behalf of the Antigua and Barbuda delegation, the Ambassador and Director General/Registrar Dwight CR Gardiner, Port Manager Darwin Telemaque; Deputy Minister for Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation Yill Otero; for Panama, the Permanent Ambassador to the OAS and Non-Resident Ambassadors to Antigua and Barbuda, Maria Roquebert Leon, the Minister for Maritime Affairs, Arch. Noriel Arauz, the Director of the Directorate-General for Seafarers of the AMP, Captain Juan Maltez, the Advisor to the Directorate-General for Ports and Maritime Industries (DGPIMA) of AMP, Tomas Douglas, as well as personalities from the domestic and international shipping, port and logistics sector.