In a moment of maximum pressure on global supply chains and with the Central Atlantic consolidated as a strategic node for tricontinental traffic, the port community of Las Palmas has rallied around the technical management of its waters. The main operators in the private sector have issued explicit support for the management of the ‘peripheral’ maritime authority, a move interpreted in financial circles as a strong recognition of the operational stability of the port in the face of competition from ports on the west coast of Africa. ‘Professionals in the port community highlight the work carried out by the current Maritime Captain, Ignacio Gallego, who has been able to shape a solid and effective management team,’ states a joint declaration from business representatives of the Oneport employer association, Fecol, under the presidency of José Mayor. The positioning of the private sector underscores the climate of cooperation in the relationships between the public regulator and the shipping companies in the Canary archipelago. Customs efficiency and speed in the resolution of technical navigation files have become critical assets for multinational container transport and bunkering companies. ‘We appreciate their constant willingness to engage in dialogue, their closeness to sector operators, and their willingness to collaborate in seeking solutions that facilitate business activity while ensuring the highest standards of maritime safety,’ details the position of the port employer association in an article published in ‘La Provincia.’ The Port of La Luz and Las Palmas acts as a barometer for commercial activity between Europe, Africa, and America, managing fleets of high complexity ranging from offshore drilling platforms to megacruisers and state-of-the-art container ships. Regulatory delays at this transit node can lead to million-dollar losses in the routing of major international shipping lines. ‘Undoubtedly, the Maritime Authority is a strategic element for the proper functioning of La Luz, a key infrastructure for the island economy and one of the main drivers of development in the Canary Islands,’ concludes the declaration. Local financial sources agree that legal security and social peace in water management are the determining factors that ensure the attraction of foreign capital and the maintenance of investments in the archipelago’s terminals.
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