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Panama cancels CK Hutchison's contracts and gives canal ports to Maersk

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 24, 2026

Panama published a Supreme Court decision on Monday in its official gazette canceling a number of port contracts held by a subsidiary CK 'Hutchison. This cleared the way for a Maersk APM Terminals temporary takeover. This publication is the…

CK Hutchison threatens legal action if Maersk acquires Panama's Balboa and Cristobal terminals

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 12, 2026

Hong ?Kong's CK Hutchison said on Thursday it has ?notified Panama of an investment-protection treaty dispute after A.P. Moller-Maersk has indicated that it is willing to temporarily take over the management of 'the Balboa and Cristobal terminals.

Panama's President says that port contracts won't be awarded to one operator

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 6, 2026

The Panamanian president, Jose Raul Mulino, said 'on Thursday' that the concession contracts for operating?two ports operated by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings over a period of nearly?three _decades would "never" be given to a single firm.

Mexico's antitrust body finds lack competition in the freight rail sector

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 6, 2026

MEXICO CITY - The Mexican antitrust commission found that there were insufficient conditions for competition in almost all of the country's freight railway system, according to a preliminary decision it issued on Thursday. * The investigation of the commission…

CK Hutchison initiates arbitration against Panama Canal Ports Contract ruling

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 4, 2026

Hong Kong's CK Hutchison announced on Wednesday that its Panama Ports Company has begun international arbitration proceedings against Panama, after the country’s top court annulled their licences to run two Panama?Canal port. This case could take many years to resolve.

China describes the Panama court's ruling on CK Hutchison Port contracts as'shameful and pathetic'

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 4, 2026

China has called the Panama court's decision to annul CK Hutchison’s contracts to operate a pair of Panama Canal ports as "absurd, shameful and pathetic" and vowed that it would defend Chinese interests. Panama's Supreme Court annulled last…

Bousso

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 2, 2026

The hard economic reality of oil will sabotage President Donald Trump's efforts to funnel U.S. crude oil and Venezuelan crude into India, as part of an overall trade agreement. Details of the deal, which was announced by President Trump and…

Court rules that contract with Hong Kong port operator violates Panama constitution

Posted to Maritime Reporter on January 31, 2026

The Panama Supreme Court ruled that a 'contract' held by a Hong Kong-based company to operate the ports of the Panama Canal was in violation of the Panama Constitution and did not serve the public interest. The court released its decision on Friday, but did not explain the reasoning behind it.

Officials say that the US has handed over a seized tanker vessel to Venezuela

Posted to Maritime Reporter on January 29, 2026

Two U.S. officials said on Wednesday that the United States will hand over to Venezuela a fuel tanker it had seized earlier this month. Since late last year, the United States has been attempting to seize oil tanks 'linked' to Venezuela. Seven arrests have taken place.

US seizes Venezuelan-linked tanker before Trump-Machado Meeting

Posted to Maritime Reporter on January 15, 2026

The United States has taken another Venezuelan-linked tanker. Officials told the media on Thursday ahead of the meeting between U.S. president Donald Trump and Venezuelan leader Maria Corina Machado. This is the sixth vessel that has been targeted since mid December…

Treasury website shows that US sanctions target crude oil tankers and firms as part of new Venezuela-related sanctions

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 31, 2025

As President Donald Trump's government increases pressure on Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, the United States imposed sanctions on four companies that it claimed were involved in Venezuela's oil industry. In a press release, the U.S. Treasury…

Kyiv claims that Russia has attacked Ukrainian Black Sea ports, civilian ships and naval vessels.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 30, 2025

Ukraine's navy and government officials said that Russia launched waves of?"drones" to attack port infrastructure in the Odesa region on Tuesday. The Ukrainian navy reported that two civilian ships, Emmakris III & Captain Karam, flying the flag…

Panama: US tanker that intercepted Venezuelan-related tanker did not comply with maritime rules

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 22, 2025

The Panamanian foreign minister announced?on Monday? that an?American?tanker was recently intercepted?by Panama. The Panamanian flagged vessel violated the maritime laws of the country and disconnected its transponder as it sailed out of Venezuelan waters with a crude cargo.

Four dead after suspected migrant boat capsizes near San Diego, Coast Guard says

Posted to Maritime Reporter on November 15, 2025

The U.S. Coast Guard reported that four people were killed and four more hospitalized when a suspected migrant-smuggling boat capsized late Friday night in rough waves off San Diego. The Coast Guard reported that in addition to eight deaths, one person has been taken into custody by U.S.

Panama Canal revenue to reach $5.7 billion in FY2025, up 19%

Posted to Maritime Reporter on October 8, 2025

In a Wednesday statement, the Panama Canal reported that revenues in fiscal year 2025 rose by 14.4% to $5.7 billion based on unaudited preliminary figures. The Canal also reported that vessel traffic increased by 19.3% on an annual basis to 13,404 in the 12-month period ending September 30.

Mexico's Pemex crude exports fell 32% in August compared to the same month last year

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 26, 2025

Data released by the Mexican state company Pemex late Thursday night showed that it exported 500,203 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd), a drop of 32% compared to last year, despite its refineries processing slightly more. Pemex is trying to…

The number of ships passing through the Panama Canal has declined in August

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 10, 2025

In a Wednesday bulletin, the Panama Canal Authority reported that the number of ships passing through the canal decreased slightly from 32.6 to 32.5 per day on average in August. The number of slots available per day has not been fully allocated…

Panama launches project to build a canal gas pipeline for the interoceanic energy Corridor

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 3, 2025

The Panama Canal announced that during an official trip to Japan, President Jose Raul Mulino of Panama had begun a process for developing a new interoceanic gas pipeline energy corridor to serve the canal. The statement said that the pipeline would be the first project under this platform.

Panama Ports will discuss port sale with Panama Government

Posted to Maritime Reporter on August 1, 2025

Panama Ports Company said that on Friday it would communicate with the Panama Government at the appropriate time regarding the sale of two important ports it operates near to the Panama Canal. Hong Kong's CK Hutchison owns 90% of PPC. The company…

US sanctions on Iranian shipping network are major

Posted to Maritime Reporter on July 30, 2025

On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury Department issued new sanctions against over 115 Iran linked individuals, entities, and vessels. This is an indication that the Trump administration has intensified its "maximum-pressure" campaign following June's bombing of Tehran's nuclear sites.

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