Tag: Panama Maritime Authority

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 ...

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 promulgatedfor 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 ...

MMC - 231 The Panama Maritime Authority issues Circular regarding Piracy Reports as follows:Pirates attacks are classified in four (4) categories:1. Attempt: vessels approached by a pirate skiff.2. Fired Upon: vessels shot at by pirate groups; pirates unable to boardvessel.3. Boarded: vessels boarded by pirates, but not hijacked. This category also includes cases when anarmed robbery has taken place.4 Hijacked: vessels over which pirates successfully gain control; crew are taken hostagesFor more information, click here.Source: Panama Maritime Authority

30 million barrels transported within U.S. borders moved on foreign ships U.S. ship owners complain the Obama administration has routinely let oil from federal stockpiles be shipped on foreign-owned vessels, sidestepping federal law.As it rushed to transport millions of barrels to stabilize world oil prices earlier this summer, the administration has waived the 90-year-old Jones Act 46 times, The New York Times reported.The law requires that entirely domestic cargo be carried aboard U.S.-flagged ships except in extraordinary circumstances.The Times says American barges carried oil from the reserve just once this summer, while 30 million barrels transported within U.S. borders moved on ships, with foreign crews, from the Marshall Islands, Panama and other countries.That translated to lower costs and saved time for oil buyers, but took potential work from more than 30 U.S. cargo vessels and as many as 400 crew, U.S. ship owners said."The idea was to create American jobs and help the economy," said Christopher Coakley, vice president for legislative affairs at the American Waterways Operators. "But all the profit from the sale of the oil has gone to traders and oil companies and all the profit from movement of the oil has gone to foreign shippers and crewmen, ...

For the Maintenance and Inspection of Fire Protection System and Appliances The Panama Maritime Authority issues revised Merchant Marine Circular MMC-226 regarding Guidelines for the Maintenance, Inspection of Fire-Protection System and Appliances.This Merchant Marine Circular establishes new guidelines applicable to Inspection, maintenance, testing and survey requirements of all fixed and portable fire protection extinguishers, and other fire-fighting appliances. Certain maintenance procedures and inspection may be performed by competent crewmembers, while others should be performed by persons specially trained in maintenance; the onboard maintenance plan should indicate which part of the recommend inspection and maintenance should be completed by trained personnel. It should be noted that the general requirements contained in this Circular are not an all inclusive list of maintenance or inspection items for fire protection systems, fire fighting appliances, and emergency equipment.The specific requirements contained in this Circular address areas where the Administration feels there is need for further clarification.This Merchant Marine Circular supersedes MMC. No.122You can view the revised Marine Circular by clicking here.Source: Panama Maritime Authority

The purpose of this circular is to inform users about the current stage of adaptation of MLC 2006 The Panama Maritime Authority issues Merchant Marine Circular MMC-227 regarding Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006).The purpose of this circular is to inform users about the current stage of the adaptation of the national regulation according to the requirements of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, (MLC, 2006) as well as the issuance of the Declaration of the Maritime Labour Compliance.To view more information, click here.Source: Panama Maritime Authority

Guidelines for the Maintenance, Inspection of Fire-Protection System and Appliances Panama Maritime Authority has issued a new Circular MMC-226 concerning guidelines for the maintenance, inspection of fire-Protection system andappliances.To view the circular please click hereSource: Panama Maritime Authority

Merchant Marine Circular MMC-224 The Panama Maritime Authority issued Merchant Marine Circular MMC-224 referring to Ship-owners/Operators, CSO, Legal Representatives of Panamanian Flagged Vessels, Panamanian Merchant Marine Consulates and RecognizedOrganizations (RO`s) for the Control of the Fuel's guidelines.The purpose of this circular is to inform about the establishment of control of the fuels quality to be delivered on board ships by the bunker suppliers operating in the Republic of Panama, specifically on the steps to be followed for the taking of samples demanded by MARPOLs Regulation 18(6) Annex VI.For sampling location purposes, the sample of the fuel delivered to the ship, should be obtained at the suppliers ship bunker manifold and should be drawn continuously throughout the delivery period at the bunker.Source: Panama Maritime Authority

Merchant Marine Circular MMC-223 The purpose of this circular is to inform about the ratification of Panama to the Protocol of 2005 to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation(SUA 2005) and the Protocol of 2005 to the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf (SUA PROT 2005).The aforementioned was approved by Law 78 of November 15, 2010, promulgated in Official Gazette No. 26663-B of November 18, 2010.In this sense, the Republic of Panama deposited the instrument of ratification on February 24, 2011and the same will enter into force on May 25, 2011 for Panama in accordance to the established in Article 18, number 2 and Article 9, number 2 of the cited Protocols.We take this opportunity to reassure the Panama Maritime Administration interest and commitment to the maritime industry.Source: Panama Maritime Authority