The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) continues to be at the center of a scandal related to the exclusivity of the evaluations business for the marine licenses granted to Orion Maritime Training Center. The situation, which came to light in 2015 with complaints to the Public Ministry, still has no identified responsible parties.
An audit conducted at that time revealed that the AMP did not adequately supervise the valuations granted by Orion Maritime Training Center, which implied alleged crimes against public administration, collective security, and the legal security of electronic means. Additionally, there was an investigation into the possible intentional deletion of information from the database of the Maritime Personnel Directorate.
The complaint was filed by the AMP itself with the Public Ministry and pointed to officials and representatives of Orion Maritime Training Center, including former directors of Maritime Personnel and staff from the company in question. Among those mentioned were former AMP directors, officials, and representatives of Orion Maritime Training Center.
The investigation revealed that Orion Maritime Training Center had issued around 10,000 assessments, but the actual figure was suspected to be even higher. The company operated not only in Panama but also abroad, from where it issued these documents. It was reported that certificates issued by Orion could still be valid among marine officers from various parts of the world, especially in the Philippines.
Specifically, it was reported that Orion charged up to 6,000 dollars per procedure or assessment, and it was alleged that they had certified foreign nationals as officers without the necessary university training, which raised concerns in the maritime sector. The Panamanian Association of Marine Officers expressed its discontent with this situation, considering it detrimental to the integrity of the maritime profession.
In summary, the scandal surrounding Orion Maritime Training Center remains unresolved, and the allegations of corruption and lack of supervision in the issuance of maritime certificates continue to be a topic of debate in Panama and the international maritime community.
