Panama – Post-registration Guidance

C26019| 20 March 2026

Notice to: Ship Owners / Managers / Operators

The Panama Maritime Authority has issued Circular MMC-407, which guides users of the Panama Ship Registry regarding the requirements applicable to vessels after registration.

The Circular informs stakeholders of the various instruments adopted by the Republic of Panama regarding the registration of merchant marine vessels and other related matters. It provides information on the applicable statutory certificates and those whose issuance has been delegated to Recognized Organizations.

The Circular divides statutory certificates into three segments:
• certificates issued directly by the Administration,
• immediate reporting to the Administration, and
• certificates issued by the RO /Class Society.

Points to Note:

Certificates that must be requested directly from the Administration:

• CSR – Applies to vessels engaged on international voyages, passenger ships, including high-speed passenger craft; cargo ships, including high-speed craft, of 500 gross tonnage and upwards; Mobile offshore drilling units; Port facilities serving such ships engaged on international voyages. Refer to MMC-183 for further information. Queries can be addressed to csr@amp.gob.pa and/or the nearest SEGUMAR Office.

• WRC – Applies to vessels of 300 GRT and above. Refer to MMC-202 for further information. Queries can be addressed to liabilities@segumar.com and/or the nearest SEGUMAR Office.

• BCC – Applies to vessels of 1000 GRT and above. Refer to MMC-202 for further information. Queries can be addressed to liabilities@segumar.com and/or the nearest SEGUMAR Office.

• CLC – Applies to vessels (Oil Tankers) of 2,000 deadweight tons and above. Refer to MMC-241 for further information. Queries can be addressed to liabilities@segumar.com and/or the nearest SEGUMAR Office

• PAL – Applies to all passenger ships. Refer to MMC-290 for further information. Queries can be addressed to liabilities@segumar.com and/or the nearest SEGUMAR Office.

• MSM – Applies to vessels of 200 GRT and above. Refer to MMC-285 for further information. Queries can be addressed to msm@segumar.com and/or the nearest SEGUMAR Office.

• ISSC – Applies to all ships engaged on international voyages of 500 gross tonnage and upwards. Refer to MMC-359 for further information. Queries can be addressed to issc@amp.gob.pa and/or the nearest SEGUMAR Office.

• CTR – Applies to vessels engaged on international voyages: all passenger ships, including high speed craft; cargo ships, including high speed craft of 300 gross tonnage and above; and Mobile offshore drilling units. Refer to MMC-195 for further information. Queries can be addressed to conformancetest@amp.gob.pa.

• BWMP – Applies to vessels of 400 GRT (except vessels, floating platforms, FSUs, and FPSOs at the location and Art. 3.2a & 3.2f BWM convention). Refer to MMC-345 for further information. Queries can be addressed to bwmp@segumar.com and/or the nearest SEGUMAR Office.

• IBWMC – Applies to vessels of 400 GRT and above (except vessels with ballast tank sealed, floating platforms, FSUs, and FPSOs at the location of operation and Art. 3.2a & 3.2f BWM convention). Refer to MMC-345 for further information. Queries can be addressed to ibwmc@segumar.com and/or the nearest SEGUMAR Office.

• ICIHM (Hong Kong Convention) – Applies to vessels of 500 GRT and above. Refer to MMC-386 for further information. Queries can be addressed to srr-ihm@segumar.com and/or the nearest SEGUMAR Office.

• ITC/NTC – Applies to vessels over 24m in length or 100 GRT and above. Refer to MMC-67 for further information. Queries can be addressed to itc@segumar.com and/or the nearest SEGUMAR Office.

• MARPOL VI / IMO DCS AND CII – Applies to vessels of 5000 GRT and above. Refer to MMC-365 for further information. Queries can be addressed to imo-dcs@segumar.com and/or the nearest SEGUMAR Office.

• Other certificates issued by the Administration if the vessels are subject to some special conditions allowed by the international instruments and the national legislation are:
1. Exemption Certificates.
2. Equivalence Certificates.

The Administration has established a series of letters that may be issued in different scenarios and circumstances, such as:
• Authorization,
• Concurrence,
• Dispensation,
• Statement, and
• Acknowledgement letters for different purposes.

Immediate reporting to the Administration:

• ISM DECLARATIONS – Applies to vessels of 500 GRT and above. Refer to MMC-176 for further information. Queries can be addressed to fullterm@segumar.com and/or the nearest SEGUMAR Office.

• CSO – Applies to all ships engaged on international voyages of 500 gross tonnage and upwards. Refer to MMC-123 for further information. Queries can be addressed to isps@amp.gob.pa and/or the nearest SEGUMAR Office.

• MLC financial securities (DMLC) – Applies to all vessels with personnel considered as Seafarers (according to STCW Code). Refer to MMC-269 for further information. Queries can be addressed to mlc@segumar.com and/or the nearest SEGUMAR Office.

• SSP – Applies to ships engaged on international voyages of 500 gross tonnage and upwards. Refer to MMC-346 for further information. Queries can be addressed to isps@amp.gob.pa.

Issuing Certificates by Recognized Organizations (ROs)

• For certificates not issued by the Flag State, users of the Panama Ship Registry are free to contact any of the ROs approved by this Administration, listed in Merchant Marine Circular MMC-136. These ROs provide essential services related to survey, inspection, and audit processes, as well as the issuance of statutory certificates.

• Inquiries regarding ROs should be directed to ro-monitoring@segumar.com or by telephone (+507) 501-5351.

Act now

Ship Owners/Managers/Operators are to take note of the contents of Circular No. MMC 407 and be guided accordingly.