US EditionChina detaining Panama-flagged ships amid battle over port control, FMC says
Nearly 70 Panama-flagged vessels have been detained in Chinese ports since early March amid geopolitical tensions following Panama's court ruling on port concessions.
- On Thursday, the Federal Maritime Commission said it is "closely monitoring" a surge in detentions of Panama-flagged vessels in China, with Chairman Laura DiBella stating the rate far exceeds historical norms.
- The detentions appear tied to Panama's Supreme Court invalidating a 1997 concession that allowed Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison to operate Balboa and Cristobal terminals at the Panama Canal.
- Nearly 70 ships have been detained since March 8 according to Lloyd's List Intelligence, with China allegedly using informal directives to punish Panama after transferring port assets to Maersk APM Terminals.
- The dispute has complicated CK Hutchison's planned $23 billion sale of its global ports business, while the company escalated arbitration claims against Panama to over $2 billion.
- Commissioner DiBella stated the FMC is empowered to investigate whether foreign government practices harm U.S. trade, as China's Ministry of Transport summoned Maersk and MSC to Beijing for discussions.
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The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission states that the move appears "to aim at punishing Panama for its verdict against CK Hutchison.
US accuses China of detaining Panama-flagged ships
The United States accused China on Thursday of detaining Panama-flagged ships in the Asian country's ports, following a takeover by Panamanian authorities of two ports previously controlled by a Chinese company. "China has now imposed a surge in detentions of Panama‑flagged vessels in Chinese ports under the guise of port state control, far exceeding historical norms," the US Federal Maritime Commission said in a statement.
U.S. government accuses China of retaining Panamanian-flagged ships in full dispute over the canal
China detaining Panama-flagged ships amid battle over port control, FMC says
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) said on Thursday it is closely monitoring a surge in detentions of Panama-flagged vessels in China that appears tied to a Panama court ruling against Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison.
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