Ports

First Woman to Lead Panama Canal Named as Waterway Faces Rising Global Pressure

Panama President José Raúl Mulino announced that Ilya Espino de Marotta has been selected as the next administrator of the Panama Canal, becoming the first woman to lead the strategic waterway. Espino de Marotta, who began her career at the canal in 1985 and played a central role in the $5.25 billion expansion project, will replace Ricaurte Vásquez. Her appointment comes as the canal operates near maximum capacity with transits rising 8% year-on-year to a daily average of 38 vessels, while facing geopolitical scrutiny and potential El Niño weather disruptions.