The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) and the Ministry of Lands, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan signed an agreement to mutually recognize for the first time the other country’s seafarer training certificates.
As disclosed, the Bilateral Cooperation Agreement concerns to the mutual recognition of training and certification in accordance with Rule I/10 of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, Amended, (Convention STCW’78). This recognition is of great benefit to Panamanian seafarers as it provides new job opportunities.
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For the Republic of Panama, the Minister of Maritime Affairs, Noriel Araúz, and for the Government of Japan, the Director General of the Office of Maritime Affairs of the MLIT, Ichiro Takahashi, signed the Agreement.
Under this agreement, the AMP reiterates its commitment to continue working so that the titles of Panamanian seafarers are recognized by other Maritime Administrations, which results in economic benefits for the country by providing the opportunity to people of the Panamanian sea to embark in this case on Japanese-flagged ships, it is important to mention that Japan is one of the most prestigious registries in the world, with high standards of education and certification, in addition to being the second country in the world in number of ships per owner.
Minister Araúz indicated that the Republic of Panama, as part of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), is listed among the countries that have demonstrated full and total effectiveness in the provisions of the STCW (White List), aware of its responsibility as a member state, Through the AMP, it is leading policies, developing actions and modernization processes, aimed at ensuring the improvement of training and levels of competence, as well as the certification process of seafarers.
It is important to mention that the Panamanian Ship Registry is the registry of preference in Japan, which is why we appreciate the trust placed in it and it is our desire to continue strengthening it, for this reason the signing of this agreement comes at a significant moment, since which represents the culmination of a number of approaches and related activities between both Administrations.
Present during the signing were the Ambassador and Consul General of Panama in Japan HE Carlos Peré, for the AMP, the Director of the General Directorate of Seafarers (DGGM), Juan Maltez, the Director of the General Directorate of the Navy Mercante (DGMM), Rafael Cigarruista and the Head of the SEGUMAR Technical Office in Tokyo, Samuel Guevara.
