From 29 September to 2 October 2026, San Pedro Sula, Honduras, is hosting the XXXI Meeting of the Committee, Information Centre Administrators and Technical Working Groups of the Latin American Agreement on Port State Control, commonly known as the Viña del Mar Agreement (VMA). The General Directorate of the Merchant Marine of Honduras, the country’s Maritime Authority, is hosting the meeting at the Hilton Princess Hotel.

The meeting brings together Maritime Authorities from across the region responsible for exercising Port State Control jurisdiction, along with Observers and Special Guests. Its purpose is to address the harmonisation of Port State Control procedures in Latin America, among other matters of relevance to the regional maritime and port sector.

In addition to the importance of the meeting itself, this edition holds special significance as, for the first time, a woman is chairing a technical meeting of the VMA. Attorney María José Casulá, Deputy Director General of the Maritime Authority of Honduras, has assumed the Chair of the XXXI Meeting of the Agreement’s Technical Committee, becoming the first woman to lead this forum.

At Red MAMLa, we welcome this achievement with immense pride: a MAMLa has taken centre stage in a milestone that marks a turning point for women in Latin America’s maritime sector.

Red MAMLa is participating as a Special Guest and is represented by four MAMLas at the meeting. Alongside Magdalena Santos Polanco, President of Red MAMLa and Attorney heading the department that provides specialized legal counsel to the Honduran Merchant Marine, are three Alternate Members: Alejandra Maldonado, Head of Port State Control at the Honduran Merchant Marine; Edenia Suazo, Legal Officer of the Maritime Authority of Honduras; and María José Casulá, Deputy Director General of the Maritime Authority of Honduras, who is chairing the meeting.

Among the authorities attending the meeting, we also highlight the presence of Prefect General (Ret.) Hugo Gabriel Cafaro, Secretary of the VMA (Argentina), and Captain Alejandro Rodríguez Escoto, Director of the General Directorate of the Merchant Marine of Honduras.

During the meeting, the Committee will address the status of membership and the Agreement’s instruments; Port State Control activities in Latin America, including the results of the 2025 inspection campaign on ballast water management; and the operation of the Latin American Agreement Information Centre (CIALA).

The agenda also includes the review of reports from the Agreement’s working groups, the OSERP training plan, women’s participation in ship inspection and control activities, external relations, and the organisation of upcoming meetings, among other matters.