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

Refers to: Owners and Operators of vessels greater than 5.000 GT, engaged in commercial voyages in/out or between EU ports           

Action Date: 01/01/2018

According to the European Regulation (EU) 2015/757 for Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Carbon Dioxide emissions for Shipping (EU-MRV), from 01/01/2018 on wards,  every ship equal to or larger than 5000 GT which has a commercial operation and calls to a European port, is obliged to monitor and report a series of relevant data on to its CO2 emissions.

The submission of the first emissions reports corresponding to the first reporting period (set to be from January 1 up to 31 December 2018) for ships subject to the EU MRV regulation has now come and their managing companies need to submitted them verification.

PHRS clients/ship-owners/managers of affected ships are urged to undertake the necessary actions as soon as possible and submit the emissions report for each ship for verification by accredited verifier (*) which will be subsequently submitted to the EC and to the ship's flag by the company before 30 April 2019. The regulation requires reports to be submitted directly to the THETIS-MRV system (https://mrv.emsa.europa.eu/#public/eumrv  ) operated by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).

Further guidance on the EU MRV can be obtained from:

• PHRS NL 178/2017 | Further guidance regarding EU MRV compliance (which can be found here)

• PHRS NL 167/2017 | Monitoring, Reporting & Verification (MRV) of the CO2 emissions from Maritime Transport (which can be found here)

• DG-CLIMA’s official webpage (https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/transport/shipping_en#tab)   

*refer to PHRS NL 167/2017 - Phoenix Register of Shipping has entered into a framework agreement for cooperation with a leading verifier, namely EMICERT, which is fully accredited to the ISO 14065 standard with multinational experience, specialized in the Verification of GHG Emissions.

  For any further information you are free to contact PHRS Head Office or any other PHRS office near you. 

March 7th, 2019 - PHRS Head Office

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

Action Date: N/A

PHRS would like to recall ship-owners, managers and operators of the importance of availability of effective procedures and measures for Crew Familiarization for Enclosed Space Entry to safeguard seafarers on board ships when entering and working in enclosed spaces.

These procedures have to be incorporated into the company's SMS procedures according to the ISM Code.

Since 2016, SOLAS Regulation III / 19.3 as amended requires enclosed space entry and rescue drills to be carried out at least once every two months on board all Cargo & Passenger ships of 500 GT and above.

Enclosed space entry and rescue drills should be planned and conducted in accordance with the recommendations developed by IMO as per Resolution A.1050(27) which can be found here .

Crew members with enclosed space entry or rescue responsibilities shall participate in an enclosed space entry and rescue drill at least once every two months.

Each drill shall address the following important crew' familiarization functions:

• Checking and use of personal protective equipment required by entry

• Checking and use of communication equipment and procedures

• Checking and use of instruments for measuring the atmosphere in enclosed spaces

• Checking and use of rescue equipment and procedures

• Instructions in first aid and resuscitation techniques.

Persons responsible for the implementation of Safety Management Systems, have to ensure that they contain a comprehensive program of familiarization training of the crew with the Procedure for Entry into Enclosed Space on board ships, and also that the procedures are implemented on board each ship for the scope of ensuring crew members are aware of their duties. Especially those on board with enclosed space duties, must be familiar with relevant equipment and trained accordingly in order to carry out their duties and identify and understand the hazards associated with entry into enclosed spaces.


In addition, Phoenix Register of Shipping requires the relevant procedures for entry into enclosed space to be thoroughly implemented  on surveys of enclosed spaces to be carried out by PHRS Surveyors.


For any further information you are free to contact PHRS Head Office or any other PHRS office near you.

February 15th, 2019 - PHRS Head Office