UMIP Students Visit Puerto Barú in David as Part of an Academic Field Experience

Third and fourth year students from the Maritime and Port Administration and Maritime Transportation Engineering and Maritime and Port Industry programs at the International Maritime University of Panama (UMIP) conducted an academic visit to the Puerto Barú project in David as part of their professional training and exposure to key initiatives within Panama’s maritime sector.

During the visit, the students had the opportunity to learn about the different components of the project, as well as the actions being implemented to ensure responsible environmental and operational management.

Project Manager José Morales shared information about the future port terminal, the progress of the works, and the environmental measures being implemented as part of the Environmental Impact Study (EIA), including monitoring programs, wildlife and flora rescue and relocation initiatives, environmental restoration efforts, and ongoing monitoring of the ecosystems within the project’s area of influence.

The visit allowed these future professionals to observe how a port infrastructure project integrates engineering, logistics, environmental management, and community engagement, key elements that are part of the current challenges facing the maritime industry. It also provided them with firsthand insight into the role that initiatives such as Puerto Barú can play in strengthening Panama’s logistics competitiveness and supporting the economic development of the country’s western region.