Port Overview

Panama Ports Company, S.A. is a subsidiary of the Hutchison Ports Holdings (HPH) that initiated operations  in 1997, through an extendable concession of 25 years granted by the government under Law 5 of 16 January 1997, to manage the ports of Balboa and Cristobal.  This concession is based on the development, construction, operation, administration, and management of Ro-Ro, containerized, bulk, liquid, and general cargo (Law N°5 of 16 January 1997; published in the official gazette N° 25454 el 29-12-2005).

Port website: www.ppc.com.pa 

Key port information can also be found at: http://www.maritime-database.com

Port Picture

Berths at Balboa Port. Source: Georgia Tech Panama Logistics & Innovation Center. Photo: Port of Balboa. Extracted on 12 March 2020 from https://logistics.gatech.pa/

Security Control Point at Port. Source:  Department of Port Security of the Directorate of Ports and Auxiliary Maritime Industries

Balboa Port general lay-out. Hutchinson Ports PPC (2020). Map of Port of Balboa. Retrieved on 15 March 2020 from https://www.ppc.com.pa/

Cargo Handling Equipment (transtrainers) at Balboa Port. Source: External Audit of Port Security 2019 achieved by the Department of Port Security of the Directorate of Ports and Auxiliary Maritime Industries 

Source: View of container yard. External Assessment of Port Safety 2019 achieved by the Department of Port Safety of the Directorate of Ports and Auxiliary Maritime Industries

Bird´s-eye view of Balboa´s container yards and berths. Source: Hutchinson Ports PPC. Photo: Port of Balboa. Extracted on 12 March 2020 from https://www.ppc.com.pa/ 

Description and Contacts of Key Companies  

Port Management: Hutchison Ports Holding - Panama Ports Company. PPC is also the Administrator of the Port of Cristobal in Colon.

For more information on port contacts, please visit the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List.

Port Performance

Due to the geography of the area and the conditions of the current market, port operations are being carried out normally.  Presently the port is not congested.  The maximum draft is 15.7m, specifically at berths 16, 17 and 18.

Waiting time from arrival to anchorage and docking, depends on the complexity of the maneuver, generally an average from 20 minutes to an hour.

The terminals given in concession maintain internal protocols and communications with the Panama Maritime Authority, Customs Authority, National Aeronaval Service, National Immigration Service and other entities involved to adequately respond to any humanitarian contingency.     

Results for the year 2018 and preliminary figures reported to the Statistics Department of the Panama Maritime Authority in 2019.

Berth Specifications

General Cargo Handling Docks

Port Handling Equipment

The equipment in port is managed by the concessionaire.  Balboa is equipped for the handling of containers, loading and unloading of vehicles by ramp, and for handling bulk, and general cargo.

Container Facilities

The container terminal comprises 47 hectares, with an annual capacity of approximately 5 million TEU´s.

Customs Guidance

The National Customs Authority is responsible of the supervision, inspection and verification of activities related to the reception, loading/unloading, entry/exit, storage and transit of all cargo that enters the port.  Customs services, depending on the type of operation, can take on average from 45 minutes to two (2) hours.  

For additional information about Customs in Panama, please visit the following link:  1.3 Customs Information.

Terminal Information

Multiuse Terminal

PPC Balboa has berths that receive containerships, freightliners, bulk carriers, Ro-Ro, and cruise liners. Counting on berths 6 and 7 for Ro-Ro freight, bulk cargo and bunkers. The Ro-Ro feature counts on a storage capacity for 2,750 CEU’s (car equivalent units), with expert drivers available to move heavy equipment.

Main Storage Terminal

PPC Balboa has the capacity to receive and dispatch containers, dry and liquid bulk cargoes, as well as specialized cargo, plus 3,468 reefer electrical outlets.

The storage is an open-air area, with specific areas designated for containerized cargo be it standard, dangerous or refrigerated.  It also has hoppers destined for storage and warehousing of granular or pulverized materials.

Stevedoring

Panama Ports Company PPC, not only relies on its own staff, but also on sub-contracted personnel for its operations, rounding an approximate of 2,200 employees between the terminals of Balboa and Cristobal.

Hinterland Information

The Port of Balboa has direct access to the railroad, allowing as such transshipment of containers bound for the ports of Colon. The port is located approximately at 3 km from the North Bound entrance which connects by road with the Tocumen International Airport, as well as to the east of the city; moreover, connecting with the Province of Colon where the Colon Free Zone is located.  Due to its proximity to the Panama Canal and to the main roads, logistics companies offer ground transport services through an array of heavy-duty trucks and tow trucks, 18 wheelers, and specialized rolling equipment.

Port Security

The PPC terminal of Balboa holds the Statement of Compliance for Port Facility, under the provisions of chapter XI-2 of the SOLAS Convention and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (PBIP- ISPS).

The Panama Maritime Authority sustains direct communications with the Security Staff of PPC Balboa. PPC Balboa Terminal makes improvements to its administrative and operative processes aimed to generate greater safety to its facilities and human resources.  Statistics on port incidents point out to trafficking of illegal substances to be the primary threat, and to a lesser extent denied entry to port, besides stowaways.