MMC – 230
The Panama Maritime Authority issues circular regarding High Risk Areas as follows:
The purpose of this Merchant Marine Circular is to inform about the High Risk Areas that have been identified because of the constant report of Piracy Incidents, Stowaways, and/or Criminal Activity.
Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC): All Panamanian flagged vessels are hereby requested to use the IRTC which includes the creation of separate eastbound and westbound transit lanes. Each lane will be 5 NM wide and will be separated by a 2 NM buffer zone.
As the IRTC is subject to change, by military authorities, according to prevailing circumstances, Panamanian flagged vessels are urged to obtain up-to-date information from the Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa “MSCHOA” website: http://www.mschoa.org or NAV-warnings promulgated
for that area.
Best Management Practices (BMP): All Panamanian flagged vessels are requested prior to transit, or leaving a port within the region, to follow BMP and to contact the local information centres for up to date instructions or transit and reporting.
It is anticipated that these BMP will be periodically updated based upon operational experience and lessons learned. Panama flagged vessels are urged to keep to the latest Best Management Practices and verify these with the designated information centres when approaching the GoA and the Somali Basin.
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Source: Panama Maritime Authority