Hubel Marine B.V.

Excellent news for the Panama Registry and for all shipowners sailing under the Panama flag.

The publication of the Paris MoU 2025 Annual Report confirms that Panama has once again secured its place on the White List for the period 1 July 2026 – 6 July 2027.

With 5,731 Port State Control inspections during the 2023–2025 assessment period and a detention rate of just 5.9%, Panama continues to perform well below the 7% benchmark applied by the Paris MoU.

As Deputy Registrar and Managing Director of Hubel Marine, I see every day how much effort the Panama Maritime Authority continues to invest in improving quality, strengthening compliance with international conventions, and supporting shipowners in maintaining high operational standards.

Remaining on the White List is more than just a statistic—it demonstrates a continued commitment to safety, environmental protection, and the quality of one of the world’s largest ship registries.

Congratulations to the Panama Maritime Authority and everyone who contributes to achieving this excellent result.

#Panama #ParisMoU #WhiteList #Shipping #Maritime #ShipRegistry #PortStateControl #MaritimeSafety #HubelMarine

We are proud to announce that Hubel Marine B.V. has been awarded the IMMARBE Excellence Award 2025 during the IMMARBE Reception held alongside the Posidonia 2026 Exhibition in Athens, Greece.

The award was presented in recognition of our outstanding performance and continued contribution to the Belize Ship Registry throughout 2025.

Our Managing Director and Deputy Registrar, Erik A. de Koning, had the honor of accepting the award on behalf of the entire Hubel Marine team.

Since our appointment by IMMARBE in 1997, Hubel Marine has proudly supported the Belize Ship Registry and has successfully registered a fleet of more than 600 vessels, contributing to the growth, quality, and international reputation of the Belize flag.

In his acceptance speech, Erik reflected on the importance of teamwork and dedication, emphasizing that this recognition belongs to the entire Hubel Marine team. He also expressed his sincere appreciation for his colleagues, whose professionalism, loyalty, and commitment ensured continuity of service during a particularly challenging period following the passing of his wife, Ellen, in 2025.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the management and staff of IMMARBE for their continued trust, cooperation, and support over the past 29 years. It is a privilege to work together in promoting and maintaining a high-quality international ship registry.

This award inspires us to continue delivering the highest standards of service to shipowners, managers, and maritime professionals worldwide.

Thank you, IMMARBE, for this tremendous honor.

#IMMARBE#BelizeShipRegistry#HubelMarine#Shipping#Maritime#ShipRegistration#Posidonia2026#MaritimeIndustry#ExcellenceAward

I’m honored to share that Erik A. de Koning and the Hubel Marine B.V. team have once again been recognized among the top-performing designated offices by International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize (IMMARBE) – the Belize Ship Registry Head Office. Since being appointed as Deputy Registrar in 1997, Erik’s commitment to delivering excellence in ship registration continues to translate into outstanding results, with our office ranked again in the global top 4.

This recognition reflects not only performance, but consistency, accuracy, and dedication to high standards—values we strive to uphold every day.
A sincere thank you to our loyal clients for their continued trust and confidence in us. And above all, my appreciation goes to our incredible team, whose daily commitment and professionalism make achievements like this possible.

As IMMARBE highlighted in their Q1 message, excellence is not just about results—it’s about reliability, accountability, and collaboration. We are proud to embody these principles and to contribute to a dependable global registration framework.

Here’s to continuing this journey together!

August 29, 2024 – Erik de Koning, Director of Hubel Marine, recently concluded a productive meeting in Panama with Mr. Luis Roquebert, the newly appointed Administrator and Minister of Maritime Affairs, and Mr. Ramón Franco, the newly appointed Director of the Panama Maritime Authority. The meeting aimed to discuss joint initiatives to strengthen and elevate the Panama Ship Registry, ensuring it regains its leading status for excellence in the global maritime sector.

“I am delighted to have had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Roquebert and Mr. Franco,” stated Erik de Koning. “It’s not about being the largest player in the market, but about the legacy and trust that come with being the world’s first International Ship Registry, established in 1917. Backed by the full support of a sovereign state, we need to prioritize the protection and security of our clients above all else, ensuring their interests are safeguarded by over a century of experience and governmental backing.”

This emphasizes the importance of historical significance, trust, and state-backed security over market dominance.

The Panama Ship Registry, renowned for its global reach and operational efficiency, plays a pivotal role in the international shipping industry. By collaborating with industry leaders such as Hubel Marine, the registry aims to uphold its commitment to quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction. The new Administration has embarked on an ambitious journey to further enhance its maritime services and fleet growth and age. This shift marks a significant change in direction for Panama’s maritime sector.

Hubel Marine is a trusted maritime services and consultancy firm with a strong 30-year legacy. Known for their extensive expertise in regulatory compliance, maritime  expertise and by embracing the Dutch directness and the no-nonsense, they provide reliable vessel registration and documentation solutions for the maritime industry.  The company is committed to supporting the Panama Ship Registry’s goals of continuous improvement and sustained growth in the global maritime market.

Our senior specialist Petra Luijpen from the seafarer department is leaving Hubel Marine to enjoy her early retirement after working 21 years for Hubel Marine !!

She is taking an early retirement and we wish her a beautiful, pleasant, relaxing, inspiring, healthy and heartwarming time. And we hope she enjoys the fact that she can redefine each day what to do and do what you love the most. What a glory and beautiful prospect!

We are grateful for her efforts over the past 21 years and wish her all the best.