Nidiaa Bakshs at LLoyd’s list reports on  an exclusive interview where Panama flag’s new director-general of merchant marine says he is keen to improve the administration’s image. As a former seafarer and casualty investigator, Rafael Cigarruista knows what steps to take.

PANAMA Maritime Authority’s new director-general of merchant marine is looking to improve the administration’s image.

Since taking office in early July, Rafael Cigarruista, a former ship’s engineer and casualty investigator, has been driving a programme of measures to improve the flag’s quality stamp, while focusing on safety initiatives.

One of his proactive measures is to seek “a total revision and update of the marine casualty investigation department, including the procedure for application, selection and evaluation of marine casualty investigators,” he told Lloyd’s List. “We must improve the quality of the investigations.”

To meet that goal, collaboration between all stakeholders is a prerequisite, he adds, echoing comments made by the Liberia registry’s chief operating officer Alfonso Castillero earlier this year.

Panama had one of the worst records for completing and submitting accident investigation reports, according to a Lloyd’s List report compiled using data from the International Maritime Organization’s Global Integrated Shipping Information System.

Investigations have various stages, including information gathering from the company and crew. Difficulties arise if the voyage data recorder has not been retrieved, or if English is not good enough, or if statements are changed, says Mr Cigarruista.

“Sometimes we don’t even get to a conclusion because we don’t have the proper information, as the ships’ owners do not want to collaborate. We have some cases where local authorities refuse to share information and just avoid our calls or emails,” he says.

“We need full collaboration, from shipowners, local authorities, insurance companies, and many other actors,” he adds. “We need to improve that.”

Mr Cigarruista, who studied naval engineering and spent seven years at sea before becoming a casualty investigator, says he is in the process of compiling data and analysis which will be presented to the IMO, possibly next year.

Panama, which is the largest flag in the world by tonnage, will be audited by the International Maritime Organization in 2021 and Mr Cigarruista does not want to see a “bad” report, although he admits it will be a challenge.

“The intention of this new administration is to improve the amount of very serious casualty investigations, elevate the quality of the reports prepared and completed, and improve reporting at the IMO,” he says.

Focus on quality

Mr Cigarruista is also focusing on the quality and compliance of the fleet.

The flag has rejected 18% of new applications through a new vetting procedure that includes extensive research about the ships’ history, including port state control detentions, previous flags, and classification societies.

If the applicant is deemed high-risk, it is rejected, he says, although in some cases, it may be accepted under “special conditions”.

A new control and monitoring department has been set up to monitor the daily activities of the fleet.

It has identified those vessels in substandard conditions, which will be subject to a different inspection programme, such as once every six months or an occasional survey conducted by the class society and reported directly to its technical department, Mr Cigarruista says.

In addition, if the team finds that the tracking systems are switched off for a long period of time, the flag will either suspend the vessel’s certificate of registration, or impose a monetary penalty, he adds, if contact with the company fails.

“This is a massive job but we are trying to be proactive,” he says, adding that his team has been collating figures and trends, allowing it to be more involved with the management of the fleet to decrease any risks.

One of the flag’s goals is to have a good record as it seeks to obtain the Qualship 21 certificate for US waters next year.

“This is a must for us,” he says.