As we celebrate the 110th anniversary of the Panama Canal, it’s essential to recognize not only this engineering marvel but also the long-standing partners who have been integral to its history. Associated Steamship Agents, S.A. (ASA) is one such entity, deeply rooted in the canal’s legacy and Panama’s maritime history.
W. Andrews & Co., one of ASA’s predecessor companies, was founded in 1889 by William Thomas Andrews, who represented the West India Mail Company in Colón, the Atlantic end city of the Panama Canal. The agency's original office was in the Fort de Lesseps area, housed in a historic wooden building that was demolished in the 1920s to accommodate U.S. Army expansion. The company then relocated to the Masonic Temple, where it remained for many years.
Meanwhile, Payne & Wardlaw, another predecessor of ASA, established its offices in the Balboa Terminal Building on the Pacific side of the canal in July 1916. W. Andrews & Co. attended to Payne & Wardlaw’s operations on the Atlantic coast, while Payne & Wardlaw managed W. Andrews & Co.’s business on the Pacific coast. Andrews, a longtime friend of Payne, left his company to him when he moved to England in the early 1920s.
Both W. Andrews & Co. and Payne & Wardlaw held Lloyd's Agency appointments, highlighting their prominence in maritime operations. In 1979, the companies’ ship agency operations were merged into Associated Steamship Agents, S.A. (ASA), with W. Andrews continuing to operate in a support capacity, attending to hull and machinery surveys on behalf of worldwide underwriters.
ASA continues to maintain Lloyd’s appointments for the Panama Canal and all the ports of Panama, including Balboa, Cristobal, and all terminal ports in the Republic of Panama. This rich history underscores ASA’s deep connection to the Panama Canal, a relationship that began even before the canal’s opening in 1914. ASA outlives the canal itself and continues to play a significant role in Panama and the canal's operations, making it the longest-established ship agency in Panama, with a legacy intertwined with the canal’s history.
Every August 15th, we reflect on the canal’s legacy, recognizing its pivotal role in global maritime history and looking forward to future possibilities. For more on ASA, visit www.shipsagent.com.
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