About Maritime Convention of the Americas (MCA)
Hosted by the Panama Maritime Chamber, MCA 2026 brings together global decision-makers to explore investment opportunities, strengthen regional alliances, and showcase Panama as the strategic maritime hub of the Americas.
Promote high-level networking between international companies, investors, and institutions.
Present Panama’s National Maritime Strategy to the global market.
Facilitate real business opportunities through the Doing Business program.
Encourage innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation within the sector.
Who Attends MCA 2026
- Shipowners, fleet managers and maritime operators
- Port authorities, terminals and logistics hubs
- Government authorities, regulators and international institutions
- Technology, services and solution providers for maritime and logistics
- Academic institutions and training organizations
What Makes MCA Different
Conference Program
High-level plenary sessions with global leaders and regional authorities.
Certified Courses
Professional training designed to strengthen talent and capabilities across the sector.
Doing Business
A structured B2B matchmaking engine that connects buyers and suppliers through pre-scheduled meetings.
Technical Tours
Site visits to key maritime and logistics facilities to experience the hub firsthand.
Panama City · May 7–8, 2026
MCA 2026
Academic Agenda
Maritime Chamber Annual Conference · Preliminary Program
* Program subject to updates
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Protocol and Global Leadership
Registration
Networking Coffee Break
Opening Ceremony
Gerardo Bósquez · President, MCA 2026 Organizing Committee
René Gómez · President, Panama Maritime Chamber
H.E. Arsenio Domínguez · Secretary General, International Maritime Organization (IMO)
H.E. José Raúl Mulino · President of the Republic of Panama
Welcome Address for the Plenary Session
Sergio Bacci · President, Transpetro
Plenary Session: Securing Global Trade and Maritime Transportation in an Age of Uncertainty
Moderator: Orlando Allard · Panama Maritime Chamber
Arsenio Domínguez · Secretary General, International Maritime Organization (IMO)
Tim Wilkins · Managing Director, Intertanko
Dafne Anghelidis · WISTA International EXCO Member
Thomas Kazakos · Secretary General, International Chamber of Shipping
David Loosley · Secretary General & CEO, BIMCO
Trade Under Pressure: The Commercial Reality of Shipping
Paul Pathy · President & CEO, Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO)
Building Resilient Energy Supply Chains in an Era of Geopolitical Uncertainty
Tim Wilkins · Managing Director, Intertanko
Juan Diego Reyna · President, Panamanian Shipowners Association (introductory remarks)
Decarbonization of the Maritime Sector: Current Situation
H.E. Ginette Testa · Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Panama to the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
Maximizing Fleet Performance: Technical and Operational Strategies for Energy Optimization
Moderator: Aládar Rodríguez Díaz
Jesús Ortega · Master Marine, APOM
Gabriel Fuentes · Associate Professor, Norwegian School of Economics
Edilberto Peralta · Commercial Manager, Lloyd's Register
Maritime Digitalisation: Can We Achieve Global Interoperability Without Compromising Security or Losing Control?
Peter Phillips · Founder & Director, Maritime Passport
Comfort Break
Colón Free Trade Zone: Connecting the Americas
Dovi Eisenman · President, Colón Free Trade Zone Chamber of Commerce
How Maritime Governance Incorporates Multilateral Environmental Agreements
Juan Lorenzo Castillo Paulino · Head of the Mining Department, General Directorate of Customs of the Dominican Republic
Geopolitics and Global Trade: 2026 Update
Lucas Gastaldi · Partner, McKinsey Panama
Friday, May 8, 2026
Strategy and Sustainability
Registration & Networking
Opening Remarks
René Gómez · President, Panama Maritime Chamber
David Loosley · Secretary General & CEO, BIMCO
National Maritime Strategy
Rodolfo Sabonge · Director General of National Planning, Institute for Development Planning (MEF)
Panama Canal Authority — Revenue Diversification Program
Rafael Pirro · Ancillary Activities Development Officer, Panama Canal Authority (ACP)
Modernization, Sustainability and Cooperation: The Panamanian Model in the Fisheries Sector
Eduardo Carrasquilla · Administrator General, Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama (ARAP)
Merchant Marine
Ramón Franco · Director General of Merchant Marine, Panama Maritime Authority (AMP)
Coffee Break & Visit to the Exhibition Area
Beyond the Horizon: Forging Ahead Through Uncertainty
Thomas Kazakos · Secretary General, International Chamber of Shipping
CSA's Strategies and Vision for Regional Maritime Development in the Short and Medium Term
Milaika Capella Ras · General Manager, Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA)
Future Ports in a Changing World: Dutch Innovation for a Sustainable and Connected Maritime Future
Erik Plaisier · Regional Business Developer for Latin America, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Training & Talent: Facing Industry Challenges
Mercedes Pardo · CEO, Spanish Maritime Institute (IME)
Víctor Luna Barahona · President, International Maritime University of Panama (introductory remarks)
Decarbonization in Maritime Transport: A Perspective of Transpetro's Ship Fleet
Jones Soares · Director, Transpetro
H.E. Rubén Argüelles Sánchez · Consul of Panama in Rio de Janeiro (introductory remarks)
The Future of Maritime Regulation: Balancing Innovation, Safety and Global Trade
Hugo Canella · Account Manager for Brazil, Panama, Guyana & Suriname, Lloyd's Register Latin America
Global Gateway Green Shipping Corridors and Hubs: Feasibility Study of the Green and Digital Corridor Algeciras–Panama
Moderator: Dr. Arthur James Rivas · External Energy Transition Expert, EU Delegation to Panama
Matteo Banti · EU Regional Cooperation Head to Costa Rica, Panama and Central America
Beatriz González · Decarbonization Specialist, Panama Canal Authority (ACP)
Juan Pablo Pérez · Head of Port Planning, Port of Algeciras Bay Authority (APBA)
Financing Challenges and Opportunities for the Maritime Sector
Moderator: Beatriz Castillo · Assistant Vice President of Corporate Banking, Maritime Financing Specialist.
Raúl Arosemena · Vice President, Corporate Banking, BAC Panamá
Fausto Arroyo · Principal Executive – Specialist in Transport, Logistics and Regional Integration, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
Maricruz Rodríguez · Commercial Manager, Caja de Ahorros
Closing Plenary & Networking Cocktail
Main Topics
MCA Plan 2026
