Refers to: Owners/Operators/Managers of Panamanian flagged vessels, PHRS Representatives/ Surveyors         

Action Date: Immediate

 The purpose of subject newsletter is to provide all vessels owners/operators and local interested parties an update of the situation on the outbreak of the novel corona virus2019-nCoV as per Merchant Marine Notice 02/2020, which can be found here.

Through the Novel Corona virus (2019-nCoV) Situation Report, the World Health Organization (WHO), has declared the outbreak to be a public health emergency of international concern. It is still possible to interrupt the virus spread, with the proper implementation of measures to control this outbreak. That is why Panama Maritime Authority recommends monitoring the situation by continuously consulting advisors and situation reports issued by the WHO.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) based on the recommendations developed by the WHO, on the precautions to be taken to minimize the risk crews, seafarers, passengers and other persons on board ships from the novel corona virus, has issued circular letters providing information and guidance. The latest IMO Circular Letter No. 4204, provides the WHO advises, reminding people of the basic principles to reduce the general risk of transmission of acute respiratory infection and urge all interested parties (companies, ship managers, crewing agents, shipping agencies, etc.) to publish the information and ensure that crews, seafarers, passengers and others on board ships are provided with accurate and relevant information on the corona virus outbreak and on the measures to reduce the risk of exposure if they are likely to be engaged on ships trading to and from ports in corona virus affected areas.

In view of the above mentioned, the Panama Maritime Authority recommends to implement the following measures on board ships:

1. Seafarers calling at China ports are advised to wear masks and take precautionary measures to avoid getting infected with a new corona virus and prevent its potential spreading.

2. When entering China ports, seafarers are expected to remain on board their ships and disembark their vessels only when it is absolutely necessary.

3. In case of any suspected case of corona virus is found on board, the ship it should reported to the local authorities and owners immediately and arranges to seek professional medical assistance from ashore for the affected crew member/s as early as possible.

4. At the same time, proper prevention and separation measures should be taken to avoid contact with other crew members to reduce the possibility of any virus being spread.

5. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing on board or ashore.

6. Strictly enforce the ISPS requirements on ensuring that unauthorized personnel do not board the ship throughout the ships port calls.

7. Frequent hand washing.

8. Shipping agencies in Panama, must inform the Ministry of Health (MINSA) and Harbor Master (captaincy of ports) if any crew member or passenger is reported with any of the symptoms of the corona virus and must coordinate with local health authorities.

9. In the event that the operating company has coordinated an inspection or audit in the affected ports of China and if it cannot be carried out by prevention measures, for that reason, it may request an authorization from this Administration to postpone it to the next port.

We recommend monitoring the situation by consulting web pages maintained by the WHO, which can be found here and other public health authorities and evaluate the risks present in the next port of call.

 Do not hesitate to contact us for any clarifications you may need on the above.

February 14th, 2020 - PHRS Head Office

Refers to: Owners/Operators/Managers, PHRS Representatives/ Surveyors         

Action Date: September 1st, 2019 

The purpose of subject newsletter is to inform all interested parties about the conduction of a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) from the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MoU) jointly with the Tokyo MoU.

This year’ Concentrated Inspection Campaign shall focus on Emergency Systems and Procedures.

The main objectives of this CIC are to ensure that:

•           Ships are capable of responding appropriately and promptly to emergency situations in order to preserve human lives, protect the marine environment and minimize damages to ships;

•           Necessary measures are taken by responsible stakeholders, such as shipping companies and ship managers having a direct influence on the safety of ships and by raising their awareness of the importance of ship emergency systems;

•           Emergency systems installed on board can be properly operated and effectively managed in any emergency situations; and

•           Master and crew of the ship understand their assigned roles and duties in case of emergency and enhance their familiarity with the situations so that they can act immediately when circumstances arise.

This inspection campaign will be held for three months, commencing from 1 September 2019 and ending 30 November 2019. A ship will be subject to one inspection under this CIC during the period of the campaign.

During this time, Port State Control (PSC) Officers shall use a standard questionnaire of 11 questions, which can be found here.

If deficiencies are found, action by the port state can vary from recording the deficiency and instructing the master to rectify it within a certain period to detention until serious deficiencies have been rectified.

PHRS will launch a similar Concentrated Inspection Campaign throughout its classed ships during any survey/audit to be carried out between 30 August ~ 30 November 2019 in order to ensure that the ships will be better prepared for the CIC.

Ship-owners and managers are advised to circulate this information to their ships and to ensure the crew members are ready to meet the requirements of the CIC.

Please click here for the relevant PHRS questionnaire. 

Please click here for the relevant Press Release of Paris MoU for more details.

Do not hesitate to contact us for any clarifications you may need on the above.

August 23^rd, 2019 - PHRS Head Office

PHOENIX REGISTER OF SHIPPING S.A. will participate to the upcoming East Med Maritime Conference which will take place on June 19-20 2019 at Hilton Beirut Habtoor Grand.

The East Med Maritime Conference - EMMC2019 is organized under the patronage of the President of Council of Ministers of Lebanon and the Lebanese Directorate General of Land and Maritime Transport with a wide list of topics ranging from Maritime Transport and Logistics Sector in the Eastern Mediterranean region to Oil and Gas Wealth in the Eastern Mediterranean and Human Resources Competencies Development in Shipping, Logistics and Offshore Industries.

During the 2-day conference, the participants will discuss the latest developments in the shipping, maritime, and offshore industries, and provide a premier interdisciplinary forum to the maritime training professionals and community to present the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns, present/future challenges and recommended solutions.

In order to register, please click here.

Refers to: Owners and Operators of Panamanian flagged vessels, PHRS Representatives/ Surveyors         

Action Date: Immediate

With regards to PHRS NL192/17 (which can be found here) regarding the instructions and procedures on the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) from Panama Maritime Authority, recently PMA has updated the pertinent instructions and procedures on the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS)

According to MMC-133,

• Company Security Officers (CSOs) of vessels under Panama flag, must apply to PMA for the revalidation of their information through the online application (http://certificates.amp.gob.pa/certificates). Once this is done, the CSOs will receive an email from info@panama-ssas.com with their credentials and the instructions for Annual SSAS testing. 

• All the Companies must include the following e-mail addresses as recipient’s address of the SSAS alerts / tests, on board the Panamanian Flagged vessels: 

1. threat@amp.gob.pa  , and / or
2. authorizations@segumar.com

• In those cases that the SSAS terminal has not been configured with the main email address threat@amp.gob.pa, PMA has granted a period until August 31th, 2019 to make all the necessary arrangement to configure the SSAS terminal. 

• All applicant ships under Panama flag, they must schedule an annual SSAS test with PMA through the use of the SSAS platform https://polestarglobal.force.com/SSAS/login.  In order to comply with this requirement, the SSAS terminal has been configured with the main email address threat@amp.gob.pa, ​the company operator shall request access to the PMA’ SSAS platform by email to the e-mail address: info@panama-ssas.com, and should submit copy of the last Declaration of Company Security Officer (CSO) endorsed by this Administration in order to receive an email from info@panama-ssas.com, with their access credentials and instructions for using the platform and be able to schedule the FIRST annual SSAS TEST. 

• Only one annual SSAS TEST is mandatory and must be scheduled through the SSAS platform in the following link: https://polestarglobal.force.com/SSAS/login , in a period no longer than twelve (12) calendar months and can be scheduled 24 hours in advance.  

After the SSAS TEST is made, a confirmation message shall be sent from PMA through the SSAS platform. This confirmation message must be retained on board the ship as evidence during the ISPS verification, which must be verified by their RSO during the INITIAL ISSC verification. 

PHRS Security Auditors are instructed to verify the compliance with the Flag requirement at the Initial ISSC Audits. 

With respect to vessels passing in High Risk Areas (HRS):
 

• PMA recommends that all Panamanian Flagged vessels with or without armed or unarmed security personnel, and that prior to the entry into the High Risk Area (HRA), the crew should be fully briefed on the preparations and a piracy drill shall be conducted as well.

• The security drill should be reviewed and all personnel briefed on their duties, including familiarization with the alarm using to identify a piracy attack.

• These drills must to schedule through the SSAS platform in following link: https://polestarglobal.force.com/SSAS/login, indicating that it is a “Piracy Drill” or “SSAS Test”, at the same time the Panamanian Flagged vessels are requested to verify that the SSAS equipment have been correctly set-up and is working properly.

• These measures should be taken to ensure that the security procedures are working properly along with the recommendations stated in the Best Management Practices BMP (last version) and the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) established in the Merchant Marine Circulars No. 208 and No.238.  

Please click here for the revised Merchant Marine Circular (MMC -133) regarding the updated regulation for the use of the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS).

 
For any further information please feel free to contact PHRS Head Office or any other PHRS office near you.
  
May 27th, 2019 - PHRS Head Office