From the desk of the Panama Maritime Authority Administrator, Noriel Arauz.
Dear shipowners, customers and all seafarers. As the Panama Maritime Administrator supervising the Panama Ship Registry, I want to reassure our loyal customers who had trusted Panama to flag their vessels that our main priority is to follow the WHO recommendations for the protection and welfare of our users, strategic partners and collaborators. The growth of the COVID-19 pandemic is our main concern.

The Panama Maritime Authority is taking the necessary measures to avoid the potential risks that this may produce, with the conviction that the maritime business must continue. We will continue to provide the best services while making sure that our clients are well protected worldwide. The Ship Registry is supported by 53 Consular Offices around the world and 13 International Technical Offices (SEGUMAR), which are following all guidelines and measures imposed and implemented by relevant authorities as they operate globally. We are already working remotely and are ready to provide any help you may need as usual. The Panama Ship Registry has the necessary mechanisms to facilitate our users the registration of their Property Titles and ship Mortgages in an electronic and remote way, avoiding the physical presence of the persons for the registration of such documents.

We reaffirm our commitment to banking institutions worldwide that trust our ship registry to ensure their credit guarantees through the ship mortgage. Our Consular offices and Embassies worldwide are at your disposal to provide you with all the notary services needed for the registration of property and liens of the ship in an agile, efficient, remote and safe way, respecting and guaranteeing in each of our actions, all the principles of legal security that have characterized us throughout the years. Let me explain what we have done and are doing to ease the procedures and give quick answers.

All our international technical offices as well as our Consular Offices are equipped to work remotely. We are providing continuity ensuring that our operations will not be interrupted by any external factor since we have the appropriate equipment and the technologic platforms to offer answers as fast as possible. While setting stations remotely, we are using our global presence to be able to provide responses on time, we will provide direct phone lines and mobiles phone numbers so questions and enquires are responded as fast as possible in cases of any emergency, 24/7.

You will find them on our website which is updated on a daily basis. We have issued instructions to our Approved Recognized Organizations, that any audit, inspection or survey expiration date could be extended for a period of 90 days. We will monitor the situation and any new development of the pandemic. If there is a need of extensions we will let you know with anticipation. An important issue is the welfare of our seafarers round the world. To that effect, we have extended the Crew Licenses, Contracts, endorsements for a period of 90 days. And we said before, we are continuously monitoring the recommendations of ILO and WHO, and will advise you of any modification or new instructions.

Dry Docking is also extended for a period of 90 days, subject to confirmation from the Dry Dock Installation, Our Technical Staff is instructed to analyze case by case with a different approach so we are fully familiar with any particular situation. At the end we want to take the best decision so any affected client receive our best support, We also want to reiterate that all our executives and directors of the Panama Maritime Authority are 24/7 available.

The General Director of Merchant Marine (Ship Registry) as well as the General Director of Seafarers are monitoring and following up on daily bases with our International Regional Offices and fully aware of any problem which may surge and provide the adequate solutions. So, don’t hesitate to contact them, they will respond you immediately. Those are very difficult times but following strictly the instructions of the who and of our governments for preserving the health of our populations, worldwide, we hope we will go through the pandemic. We will always make everything possible to protect our business partners, thus you could rest assured that we are doing our best in delivering the maximum from our side. The Panama Ship Registry, with more than 100 years of experience, is a strong flag, backed by the Republic of Panama.
Source: Panama Maritime Authority