The Chinese Embassy was inaugurated last weekend in Panama, during a visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. China and Panama signed a joint communique on June 13 this year on the establishment of diplomatic relations. China is the second-biggest user of the Panama Canal, and the main user of the Colon Free Trade Zone. Wang Yi indicated that a group of Chinese companies have signed contracts for the export of Panamanian goods worth USD 38.7 million to China and that the two countries are negotiating the establishment of a Free Trade Agreement.

Besides, China has expressed its willingness to finance the construction of a train between the Panamanian capital and the border of Costa Rica. Currently, Chinese companies are already developing a port in Panama, which is the Puerto Panamá-Cólon in Isla Margarita, with a capacity of 2 million TEUs constructed by the China Landbrigde Group. Furthermore, Chinese state firms have expressed interest in the development at the West Bank of the Panama Canal, once the country opens a tender for it in the beginning of 2018. The Dutch Antea Group and Stig Delta have developed a masterplan for this side of the Canal, including plans to invest in logistic parks, ports, railways and road connections, ensuring optimum commercial use of the area.

20th July 2017

The Panama Maritime Authority launched this video to promote the 100th year anniversary of the Panama Ship registry this year, highlighting the commitment to safety of human life at sea, protection of the marine environment, and navigation of the world’s largest open ship registry in the world.

The Panama Ship registry with over 8,000 registered vessels, represents 18 percent of the world’s fleet.

Established by law in December 1917, Panama’s Registry is known to have one of the world’s best records in environmental and safety compliance and vessel loss prevention. It has over 1,000 inspectors in more than 300 ports to ensure compliance worldwide.

“Later in 1925, through Law 8 of 1925, the Panamanian Merchant Marine was created and restrictions regarding nationality and residence of ship owners were eliminated, and adopting an open registry system.

Do you want to know about the great advantage the Panama Ship Registry can offer for your company ?

Hubel Marine has extensive experience with the registration and surveying vessels with the Panama Ship Registry.  ‘In 1988 my father Jacques de Koning started to perform Annual Safety Inspections for the Panama flag state,’ says managing director Erik de Koning. ‘Some flag states can be very bureaucratic requiring complicated legalisation or translation procedures. That was the reason why we started our specialised vessel registration department.’ ‘Most of our clients know us for giving service on a 24/7 basis,’ he explains.

Hubel Marine works with a pool of lawyers that are selected by the firm for each client’s needs according to the services required and ‘we select the best suitable for the ship owner or bank,’ comments de Koning.

With comprehensive services, Hubel Marine has a wide range of ship owners including big liners, new buildings, bulk,tankers and the offshore market ‘where Hubel Marine is very strongly represented.’

‘We give a personal and customised service and talk directly with the decision makers,’ says de Koning who visits about four to five times a year Panama. ‘We don’t charge by the hour because we are not reinventing the wheel. It is our daily job.’

Contact Erik A. de Koning of Hubel Marine B.V. for a free and tailormade advice ;

Telephone +31-10-458 7338                     http://www.hubelmarine.com

Last week the surveyors of Hubel Marine had to attend the 1964 built vessel Terschelling with Panama flag in a Dutch shipyard. This unique vessel is privately owned by a British Dive expert . The vessel is exclusively being used for special historical wreckage recovery projects.

In co-operation with Tos Ship Delivery Service the vessel was delivered from Zwijndrecht to Ramsgate, U.K. where the new expedition crew would join the vessel.

The next archaeological project this summer is the shipwreck ‘Rooswijk’ which was discovered by a diver on the Goodwin Sands near Deal. The project, run by the Dutch Cultural Heritage Agency in partnership with Historic England, involves mapping the ship and securing any archaeological material.

The ship had been on its way to the East Indies with valuable cargo including silver ingots and coinage when it sank on the sandbank on January 8, 1740.

1997-2017

On July 1st,  we celebrated the 20th anniversary of Hubel Marine B.V.

The company started in Rotterdam City Center in the living room of it’s founder Erik de Koning.

Since 1999 they moved to Capelle aan den IJssel and since 2006 they enjoy the spectacular view in the port of Schiedam.

Thanks to the incredible staff and surveyors, Hubel Marine reached this milestone and is looking forward for the opportunities that the future has to offer.

Thank you all for working with Hubel Marine B.V.

Seafarers Department Circular SDC-16-04 dated November 30,2016

Considering the lack of adequate control for the issuance of certificates of competence issued by seafarer agents under the previous administration and in view of the absence of procedures for the issuance of CoCs in accordance with provisions of the STCW Convention as amended by the 2010 Manila Amendments, the Seafarers Department being in charge of giving full force to the provisions of the STCW convention and taking into consideration all of the above mentioned, has determined as an urgent solution, that all IMMARBE Certificates of Competence for Deck and Engine Officers and ratings alike issued with an expiration date beyond January 1st, 2017 will not be considered valid after December 31st 2016.

INFORMATION
For any questions, information or queries on the above, please contact the             IMMARBE Designated Office 14:
Hubel Marine B.V.
Tel:+ (31 )10-458 7338
moratorium-validity-of-belize-cocs

October 27th, 2016

The Hubel Marine Seafarer department is annually responsible for approximately 2000 applications for Flag State Endorsements. Worldwide based clients submit their request to Hubel Marine and within a matter of a few hours the Endorsements are being sent out by courier.

In the continuing drive for quality and perfection of World’s largest Flag State, The Panama Maritime Authority developed a special Software which will speed up the process of obtaining the Endorsements within a matter of a few Minutes.

Due to the high contributions of applications submitted by Hubel Marine, the Panama Maritime Authority appointed Hubel Marine as a Seafarer Broker.

On October 26 and 27 a training was given by two staff members of the Panama Maritime Authority.

Experience the difference and contact Hubel Marine now !

On Friday October 21st, the Hubel Marine staff celebrated the retirement of the loyal ASI Surveyor of the Panama Maritime Authority, Capt. Anthony Evers.

Capt. Evers started to perform the Panama Flag State Inspections in June 1984 together with Mr Jacques de Koning who started a year before,in 1985.

With a short break between 1990 and 1996 due to other business activities, Capt. Evers continued his career as inspector from May 1996 until September 2016.

With the continuous drive to perform the inspections on a timely manner and without delaying the vessel’s program with loading or discharging, and to keep up with the latest requirements by following ISM, ISPS, MLC and Ballast Water courses, Capt. Evers will be missed by many people.

We wish Capt. Evers to enjoy his well earned retirement.

Hubel Marine B.V.