PSA Panama International Terminal (PSA Panama) and Panama Ports Company (PPC) signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Panama Canal, pooling their combined capabilities to aid in the optimisation of supply routes for the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine and supplies to Latin America.

With its logistics capabilities and strategic location at the crossroads of the Americas, Panama is uniquely positioned to assist in meeting the demand imposed on supply chains by the pandemic. As part of the agreement, the three entities have agreed to undertake a joint initiative to establish an alliance of cooperation. This will involve them working together to form a logistics hub on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal, facilitating the storage and distribution of the vaccine and supplies for the region.

PSA Panama and PPC will cooperate on the design and equipment necessary to transport the containers containing vaccines between the terminals and facilities and explore increasing their capacity to handle more reefers. Meanwhile, the Panama Canal will look into the development of additional facilities, including storage, power sources and redundancies needed to handle vaccine cargoes. It will also work on connecting the roads between both terminals on the Pacific side to streamline the logistics network.

PSA Panama International Terminal General Manager Alessandro Cassinelli said, “Once again, the Pacific of Panama will prove its pivotal role in the logistics of the supply chain of the Americas. This time with an even more complicated but honourable cause which is the receipt and distribution of the vaccine that will help mitigate the devastating worldwide effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. PSA Panama is proud to play a part in the handling and distribution of the vaccines in Panama. We are ready to offer our combined expertise and the passion of our people coupled with our state of art infrastructure for the greater good.”

For more information, please click HERE for the press release.