Tag: Panama Maritime Authority

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Industry airs concerns over BWM Convention

Document was submitted to the IMO including major concerns over BWMS Concerns over the IMO's Ballast Water Convention (BWM) have been expressed by leading shipping organisations to the IMO ahead of this October's MEPC 64 meeting.A document was submitted to the IMO endorsed by Liberia, the Marshall Islands, Panama, BIMCO, INTERTANKO, CLIA, INTERCARGO, InterManager, IPTA, NACE and WSC.As has been raised at previous MEPC meetings, there are a number of issues that are affecting ratification and implementation of the BWM Convention that need to be addressed by the MEPC and the IMO member states to ensure proper and effective implementation of the convention.The major concerns of the authors are as follows:1) Need for revision of the Guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems (G8) to improve transparency and ensure appropriate robustness of ballast water management systems (BWMS).2) Availability of BWMS and sufficient facilities to install BWMS.3) Survey and certification requirements for ships constructed prior to entry into force of the BWM Convention.4) sampling and analysis procedures for port State control purposes.In June 2012, there were 23 type approved BWMS on the market; 25 BWMS have been approved in total with two BWMS having been withdrawn from the market by ...

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Panama circular reiterates lifeboat release and retrieval system requirements

The Panama Maritime Authority has issued Circular MMC-250 The Panama Maritime Authority has issued Circular MMC-250 confirming, among other things, that all types of existing lifeboat on-load release and retrieval systems design shall be reviewed, and the performance test witnessed by an Administration or by a 'Recognised Organisation' before 1 July 2013 in accordance with MSC.1Circ.1392.Failing to carry out the above shall result in the release and retrieval system being considered as non-compliant and will require it to be replaced by a new system within the date range stipulated, i.e. after the first scheduled drydocking after 1 July 2014 but no later than 1 July 2019.To view Circular MMC-250 in full, please click here.Source: Intertanko

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Panama Canal Expansion Stalls After Labor Walkout

Work is completely paralyzed, on the Pacific and the Atlantic side Construction of the third set of locks at the Panama Canal ground to a halt when thousands of workers stopped work to demand payment of back wages and better working conditions, according to a published report."Work is completely paralyzed, on the Pacific and the Atlantic side," Saul Mendez, head of the National Union of Workers in Construction and Allied Industries, the largest in the country, told Agence France Press.The largest element of the expansion project is the $3.2 billion construction of the locks by the United Group, a consortium of Spain's Sacyr, Italy's Impregilo, Belgium's Jan de Nul and Panama's Constructora Urbana. The union is demanding that the consortium pay back wages as well as raise the minimum wage of thousands of workers on the site, according to Mendez, who also accused foreign foremen of abusing Panamanian workers, according to AFP.Workers staged protests throughout the day that included burning tires. The United Group denied the allegations, saying in a statement that it "fully complies with the pay and working conditions" agreed upon with the workers and that it is "very respectful of Panamanian regulations."It added, however, that there had ...

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Recommendations for Panamanian Flagged vessels using PCASP

While arriving, staying and departing from International Ports The purpose of this Merchant Marine Circular is to inform Panamanian Flagged vessels which use PCASP to take in account the guidelines established on the International Maritime Organization (IMO), MSC.1/Circ.1408, "Interim Recommendations for Port and Coastal States regarding the use of Privately contracted armed security Personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area", in order to avoid delays and troubles while arriving, staying and departing from ports, offshore terminals, anchorage or roadstead located areas within the territory or under the jurisdiction of a port or a coastal State.The Panama Maritime Authority by means of MMC.228, establishes guidelines for the use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel onboard Panamanian flagged vessels that need such services while transiting through High Risk Areas which are also established in MMC.230.The Panama Maritime Authority highly recommends also all the PCASC users to review the documents published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) web page, in the Maritime Security Link, which contains information regarding Port and Coastal State requirements for PrivateArmed Guards, or contact directly the Port Authorities to comply with all the requirements before the arrival of the vessel to the Port.Source: Panama Maritime Authority

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IMO workshop on maritime safety held in Panama

Participation of 32 countries in the region A regional workshop on maritime safety and the LRIT satellite long distance monitoring system was held for five days with the participation of 32 countries in the region.Participants learned about the latest developments in technology relating to maritime safety, the automatic identification system (AIS), ship security, alarm system (SSAS) and Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) with an exchange of experiences on implementation of the provisions of Chapter X1-2 and the ISPS Code, the evolution of electronic navigation, among other topics.This workshop was inaugurated by the Administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority, Roberto Linares, accompanied by Sascha Pristron of the IMO, in Panama City on December 5.Source: The Bulletin Panama

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Panama one of 10 maritime powers

Panama was reelected in category "A" of theIMO Council The IMO electoral process was conducted by AMP administrator Roberto Linares. Panama was reelected in category "A" of the Council of the International Maritime Organization, (IMO) at the XXVII General Assembly of this organization in London, England.During the election process, the Panamanian vote was upheld by the administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) Roberto Linares. Of the 170 countries of the IMO, only 10 are in the select group of category A, considered the world's 10 maritime powers.The Panamanian official delegation was headed by Administrator Linares and included the Ambassador of Panama in London, Ana Irene Delgado and the director of the Panama Merchant Marine, Alfonso Castillero.A statement from the AMP notes that "the success of this election reaffirms the leadership of Panama whose flag has more than 9,000 registered vessels". "This has been the result of a major international diplomatic effort and constant contact with our customers and members of the IMO, which leads us to continue this aspiration of remaining in this distinguished category," said Linares.The Panamanian delegation had the opportunity to meet with the outgoing Secretary General of the IMO, Efthimios Mitropoulos and the new Secretary General, ...

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Panama Maritime Authority makes announcement on use of armed guards

Merchant Marine Circular 228 The Panama Maritime Authority has issued Merchant Marine Circular 228 which provides their requirements regarding the use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel on board Panamanian Flagged Vessels.The General Directorate of Merchant Marine authorises the carriage of armed personnel onboard Panamanian flagged vessels according to the MSC.1/Circ.1405/Rev.1 and MSC.1/Circ.1406/Rev.1 which were adopted at the 89th session of the IMO Maritime Safety CommitteeTo view the Merchant Marine circular in full, please click here.Source: Panama Maritime Authority

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Panama: Maritime freight movement continues to grow in ports

Preliminary figures indicate 4.2 million TEUs moved in Panama's ports up until August Preliminary figures indicate 4.2 million TEUs moved in Panama's ports up until the month of August, 20% more than in the same period last year," said the administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), Roberto Linares, at a recent World Bank workshop in Panama."Panama is seeking to become the Logistics Platform of the Americas using as a framework the objectives of the National Maritime Strategy (MNEs), which in turn are embedded in the Strategic Government Plan 2010 -2014," said the Secretary General of the AMP and Executive Secretary of the National Maritime Strategy Commission's Advisory Agency on National Maritime Strategy (CICEMN), Maria Isabel Spiegel de Miro.The words of the two were made during the Workshop entitled "Coordination Workshop for Members of the CICEMN," an event attended by the highest level representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama, the Panama Chamber of Shipping, the Panamanian Maritime Law Association, the Panamanian Association of Business Executives, the Secretariat of Science and Technology (SENACYT), the National Customs Authority, the Panama Canal Authority, among other guests.The activity was sponsored by the World Bank through the Spanish Fund for ...

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Ballast Water Convention Looking to Panama to ensure that it comes into force soon

30 IMO member states have already ratified the Ballast Water Convention With 30 IMO member states having ratified the Ballast Water Convention, many are looking to Panama to ensure that it comes into force soon.Entry into force requirements say that 35% of the global fleet need to have ratified the convention in order for it to come into force a year later. The Convention still does not have the necessary percentage, being short by 8.56% with Panama, along with China (including Hong Kong) as the two countries who could make up the shortfall on their own.Panama is already part of the GloBallast Partnerships programme which aims to reduce the risks and impact of invasive species being transferred in ballast water. In a presentation to the GloBallast conference in Turkey this week, the country indicated its support for the convention and said it was working towards ratification, but gave no indication of when this might take place.According to some unofficial sources it has been suggested that Panama has probably has not signed the convention yet as there is no scientific solution for killing micro-organisms which has been recommended by the IMO as a scientifically based solution that will produce the very ...

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