About Anchor Group

History of Anchor Group
 

Edward W. Anchor and Solange L. Anchor opened their own ship and cargo brokerage in September, 1976. Styled Panama Brokerage & Chartering they were active in chartering / sale & purchase. .

Owing to the uncertain cyclical shipping and freight markets, in 1979 they decided to diversify into Ships Agency, Insurance, Marine Surveying and established Agencias Anchor, S.A.

In 1982 they purchased a first floor condominium in Panama City which was remodeled for new company office. In 1984 Anchor arranged and participated in salvaging 35,000 DWT Mexican flag bulkcarrier M/V Texistepec (ex N.R. Crump) aground with a cargo of urea, on Quito Sueno Bank off Nicaraguan coast. After 72 hours on board, ship was successfully salvaged with 85% of cargo intact. Ship sailed under own power to Cristobal, was declared a constructive total loss and was eventually sold to breakers in Colombia.

In 1986, after graduating from college in England, David Sean Anchor joined his parents to assist in the managing of the company.

In 1987 Anchor arranged and supervised the search for casualties OSV "Schnoorturm" tandem towing T2 tankers "Trader" and "Voyager" adrift in Pacific Ocean. Tug "Schnoorturm" had suffered an engineroom fire and abandoned by crew, casualties were located with tug partly submerged. They were towed to Balboa, tankers eventually continued voyage to Taiwan with another tug and "Schnoorturm" was declared CTL and sold locally.

In 1990 formed International Repair Services, S.A. - INREPSA - and managed by David S. Anchor for ship & industrial repairs and to represent various electrical and engineering companies.

INREPSA appointed representatives of Alaska Diesel Electric, Inc., manufacturers of Northern Lights Industrial / Marine Generators, Lugger Marine Diesel Engines and Marol Steering Gear. Over US$250,000.- in generators were sold throughout Panama in sizes ranging from 5kW - 100kW many of them installed by David S. Anchor.

In same year INREPSA supervised major repairs for M/V "Norfish Buenaventura" which had been a fire casualty at Balboa. The repairs were performed under Bureau Veritas Class conditions and underwriters surveyors supervision within the time and original cost estimates.

In December 1992, INREPSA supervised major repairs to 185,000 DWT OBO "Combi" (ex Combi Star) which had suffered grounding off the Chilean coast. The vessel had major structural hull damage and was declared a CTL arriving Balboa anchorage to conduct underwater inspection, cleaning sea chests, boiler tubes,main engine and air compressor repairs. After 2 months vessel sailed under own power from Balboa to Taiwan for demolition.

Tragically, David S. Anchor, 25 years, was killed in May 1993 while enroute from a tanker discharging at Balboa. Edward and Solange Anchor made a decision to continue with INREPSA in developing for ship and industrial repairs.

They were approached by F.G. Wilson (Engineering) Ltd. UK to market their industrial power plants.

In August 1993, Lister-Petter, Inc. appointed INREPSA for selling their line of diesel engines.

In 1995 Hyundai Heavy Industries contracted INREPSA for assisting with the installation of 4 X 50 Tons Gantry container cranes at Manzanillo International Terminal, Colon. This consisted of welding, painting & electrical work.

In 1998 a 10,000m² parcel of land was purchased and Edward Anchor supervised the construction of a three story office building and workshops which were completed in July 2000.

In 2000 Jocelyne Gisele Anchor joined her parents in their company. She is also a qualified Rescue Scuba Diver and Tourist Guide.

INREPSA diversify into steel & tank fabrication, construction and civil engineering. Additional workshop machinery was purchased.

INREPSA obtained ISO 9001 Certification in April 2001.

In 2002, INREPSA expanded welding and sandblasting workshops.

In order to support the marine offshore construction division, steel supply barges 55’ X 25’ X 5’ and auxiliary floating equipment has been fabricated at INREPSA workshop in 2003.

This equipment will be complemented with additional offshore equipment fabricated in 2004.

2004-2009
 
Inrepsa is a diversified company involved in marine & offshore construction,civil engineering,steel fabrication,floating docks,marinas,pontoons,electrical engineering and related industries.
 
Our welders are all certified by one of the major certification organizations including  ACP.
 
In past few years we have continued to grow and successfully completed contracts in offshore engineering,power plants,bridge construction and expanded our workshop facilities to include sandblasting,welding,carpentry shops.
 
We also have mobile workshops on site offices and equipment storage containers.
 
INREPSA are members of following organizations:
PBBA - Panama British Business Assocation
PANAMCHAM - American Chamber of Commerce & Industry Panama
Panama Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Panama Chamber of Shipping (Camara Maritima de Panama)
 
We will continue to grow with the development of Panama into a major
maritime,tourist,business & banking centre.