Effective from 1st December 2014
The Skuld P&I Club has issued advisory to give loss prevention advice for the new Traffic Separation Scheme for Panama Canal effectiveas of 1 December 2014.
As with almost all navigational issues, the responsibility for the safe navigation lies with the master as provided for in SOLAS and often expressly confirmed as being the case under many standard charterparty terms.
It will therefore be first and foremost the responsibility of the vessel, master and her owner to ensure she proceeds in accordance with the new TSS when going in to the respective zones where it applies.
Given the recommendation of the speed limit, however, it may be appropriate to alert charterers under existing charters to this new situation, and for future charterparties it may be useful to include an express liberty on the part of the vessel to follow recommended (as well as mandated) speeds which may be suggested by local authorities.
Source: Skuld P&I Club
