As Panama confirmed of its first coronavirus case, Wayne Stubbs, one sea port representative, ensured that the Panama City Port is safe given that the biggest concern for the time being is cruise ships. He added that although the biggest concern for the shipping industry is cruise ships, it’s a situation Panama does not have to deal with.
Following Panama Canal’s tariff increase, Maersk announced they will implement a Panama Canal Surcharge (PCC) for all cargo transiting through the Canal, which will come into force by April 1st, 2020.
In cases where it is not possible to change the crew due to the restrictions posed by coronavirus outbreak, relevant administrations should consider appropriate to extend the seafarers period of service onboard, the Panama Maritime Authority advised in a new Marine Notice.
Under the General Directorate of Seafarers (DGGM), the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) launched a program called “My First Maritime Work Experience”, aiming to provide young professionals of the maritime sector the opportunity to obtain their first work experience.
With 2019 closing, the Panama Canal celebrated 20 years under Panamanian administration, from December 31, 1999, having evolved to a competitive, innovative business, adapting to digitalization and improving its global trade through relations.
The Panama Canal joined the regions where discharge of wash water from open-loop Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems has been prohibited, publishing a marine advisory to assist stakeholders of the fuel requirements when anchoring, transiting through and docking at terminals in Panama Canal waters.
October was one of the driest months in history for the Panama Canal Hydrographic Basin, resulting to the latter redoubling the measures to conserve and make more efficient use of water. In line with its records, October will conclude with an estimated 215 millimeters of precipitation, which represents 35% below the historical average of 331 millimeters, and places it as the third-lowest in the last 70 years.
The Panama Canal and the Panama Maritime Authority upgraded their Panama Maritime Single Window System (VUMPA), highlighting the positive effects of digitalization and informing that according to estimations the VUMPA has reduced the need for more than 300,000 paper forms and documents, improving the efficiency and carbon footprint of transshipment procedures and saving up to 3,260 hours on an annual basis.
The Panama Maritime Authority visited Greece, meeting the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy Ioannis Plakiotakis and discussing Panama’s plans on simplifying even more vessel registration through its “Electronic Ship Registration System”.
Panama Maritime Authority issued a Merchant Marine Notice to inform all those vessels of Panamanian Registry that deliberately turning off the Long Range Identification and Tracking Equipment (LRIT) or the Automatic Identification System (AIS) will be issued with sanctions.
