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.
The Panama Ship Registry will launch the ‘Electronic Ship Registration System (ESRS)’, a platform that will simplify the process of ship registration, consisting of Panama Maritime Authority’s General Directorate of Merchant Marine (Ship Registry) and General Directorate of Public Property registry of Ships (ownership titles and mortgage registration).
The Panama Canal Authority announced on July 25 the increase to the maximum authorised draft for Neopanamax vessels sailing through the Panama Canal, due to recent rainfall that impacted the area. The maximum authorized draft allowed for vessels transiting the Neopanamax locks will be 13.72 m (45.0 feet) TFW.
Panama has welcomed the use of guidelines for the use of electronic certificates adopted by the IMO Facilitation Committee, and issued a List of Certificates, as well as a list of Recognized Organizations authorized on the issuance of Electronic Certificates.
Amid an ongoing diplomatic tension globally, Panama said it will withdraw its flag from vessels that violate sanctions and international legislation, the Panama Maritime Authority told Reuters. This comes following removal of about 60 ships linked to Iran and Syria from the Panamanian registry in recent months.
As Reuters reports, Panama’s Maritime Authority that after Grace 1 was seized by British Royal Marines in Gibraltar, they de-listed it from Panama’s international boat registry as of May 29. The Panamanian Authority highlighted that Grace 1 was de-listed after receiving an alert indicating that the ship had participated in or was linked to terrorism financing.
