Panama’s Alfonso Castillero joins Liberian Registry

Alfonso Castillero, former Director-General of the Panama Registry, has joined the Liberian Registry as Vice-President.

Castillero worked for sixteen years in the Panamanian maritime sector, rising through the ranks to become head of the registry and director-general of the merchant marine. He says, “I am very excited to be joining the Liberian Registry, although of course I will miss my colleagues from Panama, from whom I part on extremely good terms. Over the years I have gained a thorough understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the industry and its regulations, and indeed of all maritime registries. I would like to acknowledge the professionalism and independence of my leadership staff and of the many key individuals from the consular services and elsewhere, because without them nothing would have been possible.

“Shipping is a highly competitive – and, on occasions, political - industry. I am leaving what is currently the world’s largest ship registry to join the world’s second largest registry. But it is not necessarily about size. It is about quality. Ship registries have a vital role to play in the safe and efficient conduct of world seaborne trade, and change and renewal is part of the process of continuing improvement. Competition is fierce, and I am looking forward to using my experience to help develop still further the expertise and service offering of the Liberian Registry. Liberia’s unprecedented growth and envied reputation for safety, innovation and seafarer welfare continues to be attested to by respected independent arbiters throughout the world.”

Scott Bergeron, CEO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry, says, “We welcome the appointment of Alfonso Castillero. It is not every day that the opportunity arises to appoint somebody of his experience and quality. His long involvement at the highest level of international ship registry affairs will be invaluable and will strengthen the cadre of seasoned industry professionals who help to make Liberia the flag of choice for continually increasing numbers of the world’s leading ship owners and operators.”

The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers, and has long been considered the world’s most technologically advanced maritime administration. It has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners. www.liscr.com