Panama's circular on the Annual Safety Inspection Program

Eda Zenic -

The Panama Maritime Authority issued the amended circular MMC-171 regarding the Annual Safety Inspection Program.

Purpose: The Annual Safety Inspection Program aims to ensure the safety of Panamanian-flagged vessels. This involves informing relevant parties about the program's requirements and providing access to inspection statuses and authorizations.

Application: The program applies to all vessels under the Panamanian flag engaged in international commerce, excluding those under foreign Bareboat Charter.

Inspection Types:

Initial Inspection:

  1. New or newly registered vessels must complete an initial safety inspection within three months of registration.

Annual Inspection:

  1. Each vessel must undergo an annual inspection on the anniversary of its last inspection to ensure ongoing compliance with safety standards.

Special Inspection:

  1. Conducted as necessary based on specific circumstances or directives from the Administration.

Inspection Status: The status of a vessel's Annual Safety Inspections can be checked online or via email. The system categorizes vessels as follows:

  • Inspected: Vessels with a valid inspection conducted within the last 12 months.
  • Under Inspection: Vessels currently undergoing an authorized inspection.
  • Available: Vessels with expired inspections, no prior inspections, or expired inspection authorizations; these vessels require a new inspection authorization.

Inspection Requirements:

  • Inspections are to be conducted between 9-15 months from the last inspection, ideally within 12 months.
  • Only inspectors directly employed by the Panama Maritime Authority or International SEGUMAR offices are authorized to conduct these inspections.
  • On-site inspections are mandatory, as remote inspections are not permitted.
  • Inspection requests must be submitted by the owner/operator or a duly authorized inspector and evaluated by the Flag State Section.

Responsibilities:

  • Inspectors:
    • Must display an ID card issued by the Flag State Section.
    • Communicate with the ship's owner/operator/master before boarding.
    • Coordinate travel arrangements and expenses if the inspection site is over 25 miles from the inspector's port.
    • Submit inspection requests at least seven days before the vessel's estimated time of arrival (ETA).
    • Avoid conducting statutory certificate surveys if they conducted the Annual Safety Inspection, and vice versa.
    • Send the final inspection report to the operator via email.
  • Operators:
    • Must allow Flag Inspectors onboard and cooperate fully.
    • Address any deficiencies identified during inspections in accordance with MMC-201.
    • Notify the inspector of any issues or concerns prior to the inspection.

Extensions: If a vessel cannot complete its inspection on time due to the unavailability of inspectors, an extension of one to three months may be granted upon evaluation by the Flag State Section.

Penalties: Owners or masters who refuse inspection services or fail to submit required inspection forms face penalties up to $10,000. Repeat offenses may result in the cancellation of the vessel's Panamanian registry.