CK Hutchison's Panama Ports Company (PPC) announced on April 7 that it has formally initiated arbitration proceedings against shipping group Maersk, seeking compensation following the takeover of its container terminal operations in Panama. The arbitration will be held in London.
According to a PPC statement, the arbitration proceedings are based on a long-term contract that stipulates PPC's exclusive operational arrangements for the container terminals in Panama, which were intended to foster collaborative business development between the parties through a series of operational facilities and data-sharing arrangements.
PPC alleged that Maersk breached the contract by siding with the Panamanian government in a state-led campaign against the company, facilitating the takeover of the terminals by arranging for a new operator to replace PPC. The statement noted that on February 23, 2026, the Panamanian government forcibly seized the container terminals through extreme administrative measures, expelling PPC from its operations. The government then entered into a pre-arranged concession contract for the Balboa Port container terminal with a new operator affiliated with Maersk, which had already made use of PPC's operational facilities and data.
PPC emphasised that the arbitration claim against Maersk is independent of and does not affect the company's ongoing legal actions against the Panamanian government for its contractual violations and conduct detrimental to investor rights. The company said it will actively pursue its claims against both Maersk and the Panamanian government, reserving all its rights and remedies.
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