Page 77 - Next Generation 2015 - Digtial Issue

Next Generation Americas and ROW

As his term as president of Panama Chamber of Shipping
comes to an end, what’s for this key ports player?

Panama
Juan Carlos Croston

EVEN though he is not yet 40, found it difficult to find people with In a country where privilege and
Juan Carlos Croston has taken the right skills. wealth often bestows instant access
a prominent and public role in to top jobs, Mr Croston’s career began
Panamanian maritime affairs, as Mr Croston himself is a beneficiary humbly, as a deck officer.
vice-president, marketing, of in some ways of the country’s efforts to
Manzanillo International Terminal enhance its maritime training and skills He started at MIT as a patio
and as president of the country’s base. He graduated in engineering planner in 2004, and was swiftly
chamber of shipping. at the country’s nautical school and promoted as customer services
then completed a master’s in maritime manager a year later. By 2008, he
Croston’s year-long term as affairs at the World Maritime University had worked his way to the marketing
Panama Chamber of Shipping in Malmo, Sweden. position he now holds.
president is about to end, but he
appears to be following the same path
of another Panamanian-born port
executive.

Carlos Urriola, now a senior
vice-president for Carrix, the parent
company of MIT’s owners SSA
Marine, also held the post of vice-
president of marketing, and spent
time as head of the chamber as well.
Mr Urriola was well regarded within
Panama and instrumental in the
success of the Manzanillo terminal.

MIT, at the Panama Canal’s
Atlantic entrance, handled just under
2m teu in 2013, 1.3% lower than
the prior year, based on the latest
available statistics.

With Panama a global name
in shipping because of the canal
and shipping register, Mr Croston
has frequently called for improved
training and better targeted
educational courses to ensure more
nationals derive benefits from the
international industry.

He dryly noted in a local media
interview last year that the country
offered “too many chiefs and not
enough indians” to employers, citing
a local university course offered
in port administration. Only one
manager was needed to run a port, he
said, noting his company sometimes

www.lloydslist.com | Lloyd’s List Next Generation 2015 | 75