The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) has repealed a controversial measure that restricted public access to information concerning port concessions and other maritime-sector administrative processes for up to 10 years.
The AMP’s Board of Directors agreed during an extraordinary meeting on 1 September to repeal Resolution JD No. 012-2026, which had been published in Panama’s Official Gazette on 28 August.
The repeal was subsequently formalised through Resolution JD No. 073-2026 and published in the Official Gazette on 4 September.
Restrictions covered port concessions and licences
The previous resolution classified certain information held by the AMP as confidential or restricted-access material for a period of 10 years.
The restrictions covered files relating to port concessions, operating licences, administrative investigations and other commercial, contractual and technical information handled by the maritime authority.
The measure attracted criticism over its potential impact on transparency and public access to information concerning Panama’s strategically important maritime and port sector.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino subsequently asked the AMP to reconsider the measure, prompting an extraordinary meeting of its Board of Directors.
AMP reverses decision
The AMP said the original resolution was intended to protect the interests of the Panamanian state and safeguard confidential information whose disclosure could affect ongoing legal proceedings and the defence of public assets.
The authority cited Panama’s transparency legislation, which requires state institutions to provide information concerning their operations and activities while allowing exceptions for confidential and restricted information.
It also pointed to legislation protecting confidential industrial or commercial information that could provide third parties with a competitive or economic advantage.
However, following its review, the AMP decided to repeal the broader restrictions.
The authority said the decision reaffirmed its commitment to an open and transparent institutional management framework while remaining compliant with Panamanian law.
According to the AMP, the move is also intended to strengthen confidence among the public and the maritime and port community and provide greater certainty as Panama seeks to maintain its competitiveness as a global maritime hub.
The repeal comes at a particularly sensitive period for Panama’s port sector, with the country facing significant changes and legal disputes surrounding the operation and future development of several major terminals.
