The new offices will be operational from 17 October, 2017, and will strengthen the Registry’s presence in Europe and in Asia.
“The new SEGUMAR offices bring a closer relationship with international clients with the option of directly accessing the services offered in real time, with advice through personalised consultation, in strategic locations for the register,” said Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) director of Merchant Marine Fernando Solorzano.
Those new offices are part of a strategy focused on supporting the growth of the Panamanian ship registry which has recently entered into profitable and non-traditional emerging markets such as LNG vessels and yachts, explained Solorzano. The Panama flag has historically been recognised by the large number of bulk cargo ships and bo ships. Today, the Panamanian state is determined to diversify its business plan.
The offices, join the other nine SEGUMAR offices already established that are located in Panama, Miami, Piraeus, Istanbul, Singapore, Busan, Imabari, Seoul and Tokyo.
The SEGUMAR offices’ main function is to enforce the technical standards established in the International Conventions ratified by the Republic of Panama, as well as the national legislation, relating to the safety of life at sea and prevention of pollution by ships, in Panama and in Europe and Asia.
They also provide technical and nautical consultancy, assistance in cases of emergency, issuance of certificates and technical documents required on board Panama-flagged vessels, which are exclusively issued by the administration, in addition to other services required by shipowners or Captains of the registry.
In addition to the SEGUMAR offices, the Ship Registry’s service network include the 60 consulates of the merchant marine, where ships registration services are provided, as well as everything related to this service of owner, tonnage change, cancellations, etc. The Registry has also more than 200 Flag inspectors around the world, whose responsibility is to verify that the Panama-flagged vessels comply with the norms related to the security, the protection of human life and the prevention of pollution and all conventions and agreements ratified by Panama.
“The existence of a global network of services consolidates our goals of providing a service of excellence to the users of the Panamanian flag and to the world maritime community,” added Solorzano.
The first SEGUMAR office was created in 1977, based on Article 24 of Law 2 of 1980, with the purpose of providing technical and legal assistance to users of the Panamanian Ship Registry. It was located in New York, to attract the shipowners of the United States and therefore to flag American ships.