The Panama Maritime Authority issued a merchant mariner circular to inform all clients that their Administration adopted the Red Ensign Group Yacht Code (January Edition 2019) through Resolution No. 106- 82-DGMM dated 12 September 2018, that has been developed by United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the UK Overseas Territories which operate shipping registers from their jurisdiction
Mainly, this code is considered as equivalence under the provisions of Article 8 of the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, Regulation I-5 of the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), and Article 9 of the International Convention on Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978 as amended.
The Red Ensign Group (REG) collaborated with the Large Yacht industry to develop this ‘REG Yacht Code’.
The Code is based on the consideration that full compliance with the provisions of the above mentioned Conventions is unreasonable and in some instances disproportionately onerous compared to the incremental increase in safety levels achieved for yachts.
Yachts have a very different operating pattern when compared to a typical commercial ship which usually operates 24/7 on a tight schedule.
Also, the Code will serve exclusively the yachting sector and it is not intended to apply to commercial cruise, excursion or ferry passenger (including passenger/cargo vessels) sectors of the industry.
Yachts which comply with the Code do not have to comply with the requirements of the High Speed Craft Code (HSC Code). The Red Ensign Group Yacht Code consists in two parts, part A and part B.
The Scope of Parts A and B of the new Code are as follows:
- Part A, applicable to yachts which are 24 metres and over in load line length, are in commercial use for sport or pleasure, do not carry cargo and do not carry more than 12 passengers. As specified in Part A, The Code applies to motor or sailing vessels of 24 metres in load line length and over or, if built before 21 July 1968, is of 150GRT or over and which, at the time, is in commercial use for sport or pleasure and carries no cargo and no more than 12 passengers. Sail training vessels are included in this application.
- Part B, applicable to pleasure yachts of any size, in private use or engaged in trade, which carry more than 12 but not more than 36 passengers and which do not carry cargo. As specified in Part B, This Code applies only to pleasure yachts engaged on international voyages whilst carrying more than 12 but not more than 36 passengers with a maximum number of persons not more than 200 and which do not carry cargo.
Also, the Authority highlights that all yachts registered under their Administration and the ones to be registered should have implemented the REG CODE parts A,B or the Regulations set out in Law Decree 18 of May 30, 1984 (as applicable).
As per Resolution No. 106-82-DGMM, the Regulations set out in Law Decree 18 of May 30, 1984, will still be applicable to all yachts from 6 to 24 meters in length that carry less than 12 passengers and are not engaged in commercial activities.
If the Yacht is dedicated to commercial trading or compromise in commercial business within Panamanian jurisdictional waters the Navigation and Maritime Safety Department of General Directorate of Merchant Marine must apply the REG Code adopted through Resolution106-82- DGMM as far as possible.
Concluding, for more information you may click on the PDF herebelow
