Panama issued Marine Notice and the purpose of this Merchant Marine Notice is to inform all Shipowners, Operators, Legal Representatives, Masters, Recognized Organizations (ROs), and Shipping Agencies of detainable Port State Control (PSC) deficiencies identified by the China MSA on Panamanian-flagged vessels arriving at or operating within China jurisdictional waters in 2025, with the objective of mitigating detention risk, enhancing vessel safety, and maintaining the high-performance standing of the Panama Ship Registry.
An analysis of 2025 inspections within the Panamanian fleet identifies five key areas where regulatory adherence and operational safety require prioritized attention. Addressing these technical and procedural gaps is essential for ensuring the highest standards of maritime safety.
In light of the these findings, this Administration strongly advises all Owners, Operators, and Masters to ensure strict compliance with applicable international conventions, PMA circulars, and industry best practices, with particular attention to the following:
- Merchant Marine Circular No. MMC-404. Measures adopted to enhance the performance of the Panamanian Merchant Fleet – Pre-arrival checklist for ports under the Port State Control (PSC).
- Merchant Marine Circular No. MMC-384. Guidelines for appeals deficiencies/detentions.