Royal Caribbean
establishs a home port in Colon 2000
By
Offshore Legal Support Inc
Martin Castillo, member of
Maritime Chamber of Panama, look with interest the Royal
Caribbean decision to establish a home port in Panama,
specifically in the Atlantic shore. This business sir
reminds us is already in action the Highway
Panama-Colon, which will link passenger with Panama
city. Furthermore, he emphasizes the important of the
International Airport in Tocumen (Panama city), where a
lot of remarkable airlines makes their connection
turning Panama the Hub of the Americas.
Cruiser Season
In US
millions dollars
Years
Ships
Passenger
Earned
00/01
65
58,385
5.5
01/02
116
149,332
14.2
02/03
147
162,832
15.5
03/04
217
304,712
28.9
04/05
193
261,500
24.8
05/06
185
263,323
25.0
06/07
155
239,005
21.5
Total
887
1,439,089
135.5
* Up to
April, 2007
Souce:
IPAT
Ernesto Orillac, vice-president
of the Panamanian Tourism Operators Association, said:
"when the moment arrive we will need more framework and
infrastructures, however I'm convinced, everything will
comes at the time".
Panama Government have been
talking with several cruiser lines, even they talk with
the Florida Cruiser Association to turns Panama in a
home port.
The negotiation takes effect and
now Royal Caribbean has decided start operation in Colon
as a home port from December, 2008. There is a condition
of logistic and infrastructures (airports, highways,
etc) to conduct successfully this project.
