LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, December 3, 2009 – The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations agency devoted to shipping and maritime issues, awarded Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta the 2008 “International Maritime Prize.” During a special ceremony held Monday in London, Mr. Alemán Zubieta received the award from IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos for ensuring smooth operations at the Canal and overseeing the historic expansion of the waterway. Mr. Alemán Zubieta’s acceptance speech can be found on the ACP Web site.
Considered the industry’s most prestigious award, the “International Maritime Prize” is presented annually to an individual or organization judged to have made the most significant contribution to the work and objectives of the IMO. The IMO Council decided to award the prize to Mr. Alemán Zubieta, nominated by the Government of Panama, for his successful management of the Canal and its Expansion Program. The decision was announced during the IMO Council’s 102nd session held July 6, 2009.
Under Mr. Alemán Zubieta’s leadership, the ACP successfully shifted its operations from a profit-neutral utility to a market-oriented business model. Mr. Alemán Zubieta oversees the Canal’s $5.25 billion Expansion Program, which will double the waterway’s capacity and allow more traffic and the transit of longer, wider ships.