Sponsored By

Latin America Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC) inaugurated in PanamaLatin America Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC) inaugurated in Panama

The regional Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC) for the Latin America region, MTCC-Latin America has been inaugurated in Panama by Panama’s Minister of Maritime Affairs Jorge Barakat and the IMO deputy director of Environment Dr Jose Matheickhal.

Michele Labrut, Americas Correspondent

March 14, 2018

2 Min Read
Kalyakan - stock.adobe.com

They were joined by Giovanni Di Girolamowith the European Union and Dr Eladio Penaloza, who will head MTCC, and the International Maritime University of Panama (UMIP) dean Aladar Rodriguez. 

MTCC will be located at the International Maritime University of Panama; it will be funded by the EU and implemented by the IMO to help mitigate the harmful effects of climate change under the Global MTTC Network (GMN) project. Panama’s MTCC joins MTCCs in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.  

MTCC-Panama’s director Dr Eladio Penaloza is a veteran of the maritime sector having graduated from Chile’s Naval Academy as an engineer. He represented Panama at the IMO from 1998 to 2000 and participated to the creation of the International Maritime University of Panama which is a public university funded by the Panamanian Government and, by law, is the official higher education institution specialised in maritime education and training of the Republic of Panama. The university’s scope involves all areas related to the maritime sector, including all aspects of shipping, maritime infrastructure and services, coastal, marine, and environmental protection. 

The MTCCs will act as focal point for:

• Improving capability in the region - by working with maritime administrations, port authorities, other relevant government departments and related shipping stakeholders to facilitate compliance with international regulations on energy efficiency for ships
• Promoting the uptake of low-carbon technologies and operations in the maritime sector through pilot projects
• Raising awareness about policies, strategies and measures for the reduction of ghg and other emissions from the maritime transport sector
• Demonstrating a pilot-scale system for collecting data and reporting on ships’ fuel consumption to improve ship owners’ and maritime administrations’ understanding in this regard, and
• Developing and implementing strategies to sustain the impact of MTCC results and activities beyond the project time-line.

Read more about:

climate change

About the Author

Michele Labrut

Americas Correspondent

Michèle Labrut is a long-time Panama resident, a journalist and correspondent, and has continuously covered the maritime sector of Central & Latin America.

Michèle first came to Panama as a press attaché to the French Embassy and then returned to the isthmus as a foreign correspondent in the 1980s.

Author of Seatrade Maritime's annual Panama Maritime Review magazine and of several books, Michèle also wrote for Time magazine, The Miami Herald, NBC News and the Economist Intelligence Unit. She has also collaborated in making several documentaries for the BBC and European and U.S. television networks.

Michèle's profession necessitates a profound knowledge of the country, but her acumen is not from necessity alone, but a genuine passion for Panama.

In 2012 she was awarded the Order of Merit (Knight grade) by the French Government for her services to international journalism and in 2021 the upgrade to Chevalier grade.

Get the latest maritime news, analysis and more delivered to your inbox
Join 12,000+ members of the maritime community

You May Also Like