What Happened
Maersk said it does not accept responsibility for the claims filed by Panama Ports Company as the long-running dispute over the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals moves into international arbitration. The shipping company confirmed that PPC has opened proceedings against it and said it will address the matter in the proper forum.
The response came after PPC announced it would formally pursue arbitration against Maersk over the handling of the port concessions in Panama. PPC tied its claim to the constitutional challenge brought by the Panamanian government and to the Supreme Court ruling that invalidated the company’s earlier concession.
How the Dispute Reached This Point
The conflict follows the January decision by Panama’s Supreme Court, which upheld a ruling that struck down Law 5 of 1997 and its amendments, the legal framework behind PPC’s concession. The court found that the arrangement violated several articles of the Panamanian Constitution, ending PPC’s legal basis to operate the ports.
After the ruling, the government moved to keep the terminals running and to preserve jobs while preparing a new concession process under different rules. President José Raúl Mulino said the country would maintain port operations and labor stability during the transition.
Role of APM Terminals
PPC says the dispute also involves APM Terminals, the Maersk subsidiary that was appointed as temporary operator after the concession was nullified. PPC has argued that Maersk aligned itself with the Panamanian state and helped push PPC aside through what it described as a takeover of the terminals.
Maersk did not address those accusations in detail. In its statement, the company said only that it disagrees with the claims and will respond through the appropriate legal channel.
Why It Matters
The case adds an international legal layer to one of the most important port disputes in Panama. Balboa and Cristóbal are strategic assets on both sides of the Panama Canal, and their operation affects trade flows, logistics planning, and investor confidence in the country’s maritime sector.
The arbitration in London will proceed separately from PPC’s expected case against the Panamanian state. That means the dispute could unfold on multiple fronts, with both the government and Maersk facing legal scrutiny over how the concession ended and how control of the terminals changed hands.
For Panama, the outcome will matter well beyond the courtroom. The ports are part of the country’s broader logistics network, and their management is closely tied to the national economy, employment, and the credibility of future concessions.