Panama – Ship-to-Ship Transfers

C25039 | 21 July 2025

Notice to: Owners / Operators / Surveyors: 

The Panama Maritime Authority has issued Merchant Marine Circular MMC-217 informing all owners/operators about new requirements established for Ship-to-Ship (STS) Operations concerning Panamanian Oil Tankers of 150 GRT and above. The Circular follows on from Resolution No. 106-035-DGMM of April 11 2025, a new requirement to regulate STS transfers to prevent illegal operations of the Dark Fleet or Shadow Fleet.

Points to note : 

STS Operations Plan

Ships flying the flag of the Republic of Panama are required to update their STS Operations Plan to include notifying the Administration when and where they are engaged in STS operations, especially mid-ocean STS transfers.

Records of oil cargo transfer operations are required to be recorded in the Oil Record Book and Emissions Part II – Cargo and Ballast Operation Book. Any records required by the STS Operations Plan are to be retained on board for three years.

Instructions for Recognized Organizations (ROs)

The STS Operations Plans are to be approved by authorized Recognized Organizations on behalf of the Republic of Panama.

Updated STS Operations Plans are to be approved by the authorised RO no later than the first annual, intermediate or renewal survey of the International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate (IOPP), whichever occurs first, after August 06 2025.

ROs interested in obtaining authorization/delegation of authority for the approval of the STS Operations Plan may contact ro-monitoring@segumar.com.

STS transfer Notification in a mid-ocean operation

From August 06 2025, all Panamanian-flagged oil tankers, acting as discharging and/or receiving vessels, must notify their STS transfer operations to the Flag State through the E-Segumar Platform.

If the STS operation is carried out between two Panamanian-flagged oil tankers, both vessels must notify the STS transfer operation to the Panama Flag State through the E-Segumar Platform.

The STS transfer notification must be provided well in advance, and at least forty-eight (48) hours before the planned STS transfer operations. An acknowledgement of receipt will be issued by the Flag State through the E-Segumar Platform, and is to be kept on board in electronic format for a minimum period of three (3) years.

The STS transfer notification is to include the following information:

• Name, flag, call sign, IMO Number and estimated time of arrival of the oil tankers involved in the STS transfer operation.
• Date, time and geographical position of the commencement of the planned STS transfer operation.
• Mode in which the STS transfer operation will be carried out: at anchor or underway.
• Type of oil and its quantity.
• Expected duration of the STS transfer operation.
• Identification and contact information (email, telephone number) of the Designated Person Ashore (DPA) of each oil tanker involved in the STS operation.
• Confirmation that the oil tanker has on board an STS operations Plan complying with the requirements of Regulation 41, Annex I, MARPOL Convention.

Act now

Owners / Operators of Panamanian-flagged vessels performing ship-to-ship transfers are to take note of the contents of MMC-217 and be guided accordingly.

Surveyors are to confirm that Updated STS Operations Plans have been approved by Dromon no later than the first annual, intermediate or renewal survey of the International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate (IOPP), whichever occurs first, after August 06 2025.