Vehicle / Fahrzeug

Shipping the Vehicle

We shipped our vehicle with Seaboard Marine from Panama to Colombia. Our agent was Transcanal / Barwil Agencies S.A.
The company moved their offices in June 2010 and their new address is Panama Pacifico (Howard Base), International Business Park, Tower A, 3rd floor, Office 401.

GPS Location:

N 08º 55.673
W 097º 35.568

Contact person is:

Mrs. Evelyn Batista (speaks English)
Emails: evelyn.batista@wilhelmsen.com, evelyn.batista@transcanal.com, customerservice@transcanal.com

Phone:+507 263 7755
Telefax:+507 223 0698

How to get to the new offices of Barwil.

Driving on CA1 TOWARDS Panama City take exit signed "Cocoli'. That's before the Bridges of America. You can also look for signs that say "Mailboxes etc". Follow those signs. You will come to a small building with Security Guards. Stay on the road and drive for about 1 mile. You will see two new "brownish" office buildings on the right hand site. Ask the security guards for Tower A. The office is on the third floor.

Driving on CA1 FROM Panama City there are no signs for Cocoli. Keep an eye out for signs "Mailboxes etc." and "Panama Pacifico". The exit is shortly after a bridge over CA1. Stay right and you'll see signs for "Panama". Go the OPPOSITE direction. There were no signs for "Cocoli" at this exit.

OR just take a taxi. It's $ 10 each way. Tell the driver to wait. There are NO taxis out there. It will cost you anywhere between $ 5 and $ 10 per hour if the driver waits for you.

This is the procedure in Panama

Obtain a vehicle inspection report from PTJ (Policia Tecnica Judicial). They changed the procedure just recently. You have to be there between 10 am and 11 am. Wear long pants. You have to visit two PTJ offices. The first one is located on the corner of Luis Felipe Clement and Ascanio Arosemena (GPS: N08°57.951' / W079°32.674'). The second one is right across the street. It is a four lane freeway so you have to find your way. In the first PTJ office, they check the VIN Number of your car and ask for copies of your passport, title, permit of entry and and drivers license. You will be told to go the Secretaria General at 2pm
The second office, Secretaria General, will issue a permit to leave the country. You need the bill of lading for that. The permit is valid for 8 days.
Now it is time to deliver your vehicle. In our case we had to deliver it to the "Christobal" Port in Colón. The process took 3 hours.
1. At first you have to go to the Seabord office. Park on the parking lot right in front of the Port Entrance. The stamp the Bill of lading (again) and give you some new form.
2. Go to the Aduana downstairs to get the papers stamped (You need to do this even if the Customs Office at the Manzanillo Port already stamped it.
3. Port personell (orange uniforms) will check your vehicle. They fill out a checklist with all the - removable - valuables in your car (Radio, floor mats etc.)
4. Go to Cashier on backside of Building and pay harbor fee ($10)
5. Go back upstairs and find someone to measure and inspect your vehicle in your presence. This person also prepares a checklist and checks the vehicle for damages. This is for Seabord.
6. Get a copy of the vehicle inspection report and a stamped version of your "Bill of Lading";
7. Drive into the port. The guys in the orange uniform will help you find the right place to park your car in the huge areal.
8. Say adios to your vehicle and take a personell bus back to the entrance.
9. Pray that your vehicle will end up at the chosen destination and not in Japan. The whole process looks and feels rather chaotic.