maritime

Port company wants to expand

A dispute with a fishing club is holding up the fourth phase of the Balboa Port project.

la prensa

Disputed: A company is threatening legal action against a fishing club located in the Balboa Port.1146521

Panama Ports Company is eyeing land occupied by the fishing organization Diablo Spinning Club (DSC) in Balboa to complete the fourth phase of the expansion of a container terminal.

The fourth phase of the port expansion represents an investment of more than $1 billion, and includes the construction of wharves, a container yard and equipment purchases. “Because DSC has not proceeded to evacuate the area, PPC has seen the need to exercise their legal and contractual right to justice,” said Panama Ports Director of Marketing Rommel Troetsch. The club, which was founded 55 years ago, has a lease for the area, but according to the ports company it was awarded in the 1950s, before any thought was given to the expansion of the country's shipping industry.

According to DSC’s web site, it was granted the area on April 27, 1953, by the governor-president of the Panama Canal Company. It consisted of an area of land occupied by the Boy Scouts in the Canal Zone. Under this registration, the organization was comprised of U.S. government employees, members of the armed forces and other residents in the area. In 1982, it received a new lease that included access to a 274-foot pier.

The contract signed in 1997 between the government and Panama Ports granted the company the right to develop and operate the ports of Balboa and Cristóbal. In 2005, it was reported that the organization was working on a building new club in a nearby area, but that has not yet happened.

Panama Ports decided not to provide further details on this case.

“Our lawyers believe that matters relating to the dispute should not be aired in the local media,” company officials said.

Además en Herald

• Sandra Noriega’s nomination defended
• Atalaya icon returned
• Farfán port project no closer to reality
• Officials warn of meningitis
• Gas to creep above $2 a gallon
• US extends tariff benefits until 2010
• Sea clean-up contract provokes court battle
• Port company wants to expand
• Free Zone sees continued growth