The Royal Caribbean cruise line presented a proposal to the Panamanian government to develop a floating dry dock for the repair of cruise ships and other large vessels at Puerto Armuelles on the Pacific coast.
The project envisions the installation of a floating dry dock approximately 400 meters long, capable of lifting fully loaded vessels of up to 130,000 tons. The facility would allow for maintenance and repairs of cruise ships and other large vessels, including container ships and specialized vessels, without the need to transport them to shipyards in Asia, as is currently the case in many instances.
According to official information, the initiative was presented during a meeting between company executives and Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino earlier this month. The plan envisions a phased development between 2026 and 2031 and would incorporate an industrial platform designed according to criteria of low emissions, operational resilience, and responsible wastewater management, in addition to complying with international safety and environmental protection standards.
If realized, it would expand capabilities in naval maintenance services and a strategic alternative for the repair of large vessels operating on Pacific and Atlantic routes.