An LPG tanker leaves the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal, on the outskirts of Panama City, Panama December 17, 2023. REUTERS/Roberto Cisneros
Tampa-based marine services provider Isla Maritime has expanded into Panama through a strategic partnership with J.A.M. Marine Dockyard, establishing a rapid-response salvage and emergency services capability along one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors.
The collaboration pairs Isla Maritime’s international salvage experience with J.A.M.’s local infrastructure and operational footprint in Veracruz, Panama, creating a regional response network positioned to support vessels transiting waterways expected to see nearly 12,000 ship movements in fiscal year 2026, according to projections from the Panama Canal Authority.
“Panama’s waterways are essential to global commerce, but when incidents occur, the impacts ripple quickly through supply chains,” said Isla Maritime CEO Aileen Caras. “With Panama’s strategic location at the center of the Americas, Isla Maritime is now positioned to respond rapidly, while international operators are still mobilizing personnel and resources.”
The partnership will offer shipowners, managers, insurers, and salvage operators a full suite of emergency and marine services, including salvage operations, wreck removal, hot tapping, fuel removal, cargo lightering, and vessel refloating. Commercial diving capabilities include hull cleaning, underwater inspections, marine construction, and specialized underwater welding and cutting.
Isla Maritime’s leadership team brings nearly five decades of combined experience, including work with major salvage operators such as Resolve Marine and TITAN Salvage. The team has supported complex operations across South America, Australia, and India, and has worked on projects involving multiple NOAA research vessels, the historic USS Yorktown, and the high-profile salvage of the MV Dali following its collision with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.
“This partnership represents more than a business collaboration — it bridges local expertise with international experience,” said Alejandro Villarreal, CEO of J.A.M. Marine Dockyard. “Together, we are building faster, more capable response systems that strengthen maritime safety and operational readiness across Panama and the wider region.”
Founded in 2023, Isla Maritime is certified as an Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business by the U.S. federal government and as a woman-owned, minority business in Florida. J.A.M. Marine Dockyard, established in 2020, operates a facility capable of servicing up to eight vessels simultaneously, offering 24/7 afloat, underwater, and drydock services.
The expansion comes as Panama’s role at the crossroads of Atlantic and Pacific trade continues to grow, with the partnership aimed at strengthening regional maritime resilience and ensuring uninterrupted navigability through these vital waterways.
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