Royal Caribbean to Build Dry Dock in Puerto Armuelles

Posted on 2026-03-20

Representatives from the Royal Caribbean Group met with the President to express their interest in establishing this infrastructure in the Punta Piedra sector. The project features a 130,000-ton floating dock, projected to be 400 meters long, with the capacity to lift fully loaded ships.

The primary goal is to take advantage of cruise ships' transit through Panama to carry out maintenance and repairs locally, eliminating the need for vessels to travel as far as Asia for such services. In addition to Royal Caribbean's own fleet, the dock will service:

• Container ships.

• Large specialized vessels.

Sustainable Development and Regional Impact

The project will be developed in stages between 2026 and 2031. The design focuses on a low-carbon, resilient industrial platform that includes responsible wastewater management and adheres to international safety and environmental standards.

President Mulino emphasized that this investment will revitalize the Barú region, an area that has been economically neglected for years. To ensure the local population benefits from these opportunities, the National Institute for Professional Training and Human Development (Inadeh) will expand its programs in Puerto Armuelles to provide specialized technical maritime training.

Key Participants

The high-level meeting included presidential advisor Alberto Alemán Zubieta; Luis Roquebert, Administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority; and senior Royal Caribbean executives including Joshua Carrol, Cristóbal Bernstein, and Andre Pousada, alongside investors Alfonso Tarazi, Isaac Tarazi, Paolo Mele, and Edward Dolan.