Panama has issued a circular referring to the ships subject to the International Safety Management Code

The Panama Maritime Authority has issued a merchant marine circular referring to the ships subject to the International Safety Management (ISM) Code.

This circular explains the policy for ships adhering to the ISM Code, with a focus on additional verifications in certain situations.

It highlights the significance of promptly addressing safety concerns.

Key Details:

• The circular details the ISM Code's application to ships and emphasizes the role of the Flag State Administration in ensuring compliance.
• Specific scenarios requiring additional verifications, such as Port State Control detentions, reactivation after operational interruptions, and reported deficiencies affecting ISM Code implementation, are outlined.
• Procedures for addressing non-conformities, observations, accidents, and near-misses are described, encouraging companies to report and analyze these incidents for safety improvements.
• The qualifications, training, and experience required for the Designated Person Ashore (DPA) role are explained, along with the need for companies to offer relevant training courses.
• Instructions for obtaining endorsements for ISM Code Declarations, including Declarations of Company (DC) and Designated Person Ashore (DPA), are provided.
• The circular addresses the challenges of managing multi-flagged fleets and recommends seeking agreements with Flag State Administrations to streamline processes.
• Penalties for non-compliance with ISM Code requirements are highlighted, emphasizing the importance of adhering to safety standards.

This circular was issued on 1 September 2023.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):

International Safety Management (ISM) Code Panama Policy