Panama issued MMN 05/2025 to communicate to allvShipowners/Operators, Legal Representatives of Panama Flag Vessels, and PanamavMerchant Marine Recognized Organizations (ROs) that Member Authorities of the Tokyovand Paris Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Port State Control will launch a jointvConcentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Ballast Water Management (BWM).

This inspection campaign will be held for three months, commencing on September 1, 2024, and ending on November 30, 2024. The campaign will examine specific areas related to Ballast Water Management (BWM) in conjunction with the regular Port State Inspection. A ship will be subject to only one inspection under this CIC during the campaign period.

The CIC assists in raising awareness among shipowners, operators, and crew regarding the specific requirements of the BWM Convention. The purpose of the CIC on Ballast Water Management (BWM) is:

• To promote the implementation of the BWM Convention in an efficient and effective manner.
• To combat the spread of invasive alien species and pathogens by mandating that ships effectively remove or neutralize any water-borne organisms and pathogens present in ballast water before its release elsewhere.
• To emphasize the need for ships to employ approved Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS) or alternative measures to achieve compliance with the Convention’s standards.

Port State Control Officers (PSCOs) will use a pre-defined questionnaire during the CIC. If deficiencies are found, actions by the Port State Control may vary, from registering a deficiency and instructing the master to rectify it within a certain period of time to detaining the ship until the serious deficiencies have been rectified.

Panma Maritime Administration encourages all Shipowners/Operators, Legal Representatives of Panama Flag Vessels, and Panama Merchant Marine Recognized Organizations (ROs) to review the standards of compliance with the BWM Convention.