NL 204/19|Panama Maritime Administration - Mandatory Annual SSAS Test

Company Security Officers (CSO) of companies operating Panamanian flagged vessels are reminded that PMA, as from January 1st, 2018 requires to carry out a mandatory annual SSAS TEST  through the online platform in use from PMA, according to MMC-133 and the  new MMC-371.

In case of vessel changes name, it will be necessary to schedule a new SSAS TEST, through the platform, in order to verify that the new name was programmed properly.

The Administration urges Companies, Company Security Officers (CSO), Ship Security Officers (SSO) and the Recognized Security Organization (RSOs) of Panamanian flagged vessels to verify and comply with this Resolution
and the MMC 133.

For ships to enter the Panamanian registry as of January 1st, 2018, they must schedule the first SSAS TEST through the use of the new platform, which must be verified by their RSO during the initial verification and from that date onwards, every 12 months.  In those cases, it must also be ensured that the Company Security Officer designated by the Company Operator already has the Declaration of Company Security Officer duly endorsed by Panama Maritime Authority (as per MMC-206) in order to schedule the first SSAS TEST according to MMC 133.

PHRS, since January 2018, requires the verification of evidence of SSAS annual test records during Initial verifications onboard ships for which PHRS is the RSO, in accordance to the requirements set by PMA.

For further information on the actions to be taken by the CSOs, Ship-managers/owners/operators can also refer to PHRS Newsletter NL 192 of 2017 [ NL 192/17 | New Panama Flag Regulation for the use of the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) ] and the attached MMC-133 and MMC-371.

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

January 15^th, 2019 - PHRS Head Office

Στις 20 Νοεμβρίου ο Οργανισμός διοργάνωσε την ενημερωτική εκδήλωση / ανοιχτή συζήτηση "Επιθεωρήσεις σκαφών αναψυχής: το παρόν και το μέλλον" στην αίθουσα εκδηλώσεων του Ιδρύματος Ευγενίδου. Στην εκδήλωση, πάνελ ομιλητών αποτελούμενο από στελέχη του Οργανισμού συνομίλησε με το κοινό για θέματα σχετικά με την προετοιμασία μιας επιθεώρησης, τα απαραίτητα δικαιολογητικά που πρέπει να υποβληθούν, την διενέργεια της επιθεώρησης καθώς και για καίρια ζητήματα που απασχολούν όλους τους εμπλεκόμενους στον χώρο των σκαφών αναψυχής. Ιδιαίτερη αναφορά έγινε και στο νέο θεσμικό πλαίσιο επιθεωρήσεων σκαφών σε συνδυασμό με τις αναβαθμισμένες υπηρεσίες που παρέχει ο Οργανισμός στον τομέα της πιστοποίησης.

Την ημερίδα τίμησαν με την παρουσία τους υφιστάμενοι πελάτες του Οργανισμού, συνεργάτες, εκπρόσωποι φορέων (ΣΙΤΕΣΑΠ, ΕΠΕΣΤ, ΠΕΝΕΤΗΣ κ.α), ναυτικοί πράκτορες, πλοιοκτήτες και επαγγελματίες που δραστηριοπούνται στην εκμετάλλευση τουριστικών σκαφών.

Όλο το ενημερωτικό υλικό της παρουσίασης είναι διαθέσιμο, κατόπιν αιτήματος, στο email jenny.arvanitaki@phrs.gr .

We are pleased to share the appreciation letter we received from Panama Flag Administration regarding PHRS’s outstanding performance in Paris MoU evaluation list for the period 2015-2017.

The fact that Phoenix Register of Shipping is the first Greek Classification Society to enter the High Performance Rank, did not go unnoticed by Panama Flag Administration,  the world’s largest Flag Administrations with a total fleet of over 8.000 vessels.

Such recognition keeps us inspired to continue our ever- ending work regarding the safety of human life at sea and the protection of the marine environment.

Refers to: Ship Owners/ Managers, PHRS Representatives/Surveyors
Action Date: February 21st, 2018

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 70), which was held on October 2016, adopted important amendments to MARPOL V (Garbage) and as such the garbage handling procedure, management method, and record keeping method regarding garbage from ships:

•    Amended MARPOL V adopted by MEPC.277(70) which will enter into force on 1 March 2018.
•    2017 implementation guideline of MARPOL V was amended by MEPC.295(71).

Therefore, vessels are required to implement the following by 1 March 2018:
 
•    Solid bulk cargoes other than grain shall be classified as declared by the shipper as to whether or not they are harmful to the marine environment (HME). in accordance with appendix I of MEPC.277(70). Please refer to appendix II of MEPC.277(70).

•    Garbage is to be handled taking into account amended garbage category. The Form of Garbage Record Book (GRB) was amended in order to distinguish the information on delivery/discharge of cargo residues. The Record of Garbage Discharges is divided into Part I and Part II.

Part I will be for the use of all ships and Part II will be only required for ships that carry solid bulk cargoes other than grain
 
Part I: A Plastics / B Food wastes / C Domestic wastes / D Cooking oil / E Incinerator ashes / F Operational wastes / G Animal carcasses / H Fishing gear / I E-waste

Part II: J Cargo residues (non-HME) / K Cargo residues (HME)"

New category of garbage “e-waste” is included in form of GRB. E-waste is defined as any electronic equipment, including its components, sub-assemblies and consumables, when disposed of as a waste.

 
Furthermore, in order for the ship managers to be aligned by 01 March 2018 with the revised MARPOL Annex V Garbage Requirements,  they should have an effective updated Garbage Record Book and instruct their crews to mark the new Garbage Types on board regarding the “E-Waste” and “Cargo Residues”.
 
 
No change has been made regarding the issuance of Statutory Certificate under the MARPOL V as it remains not mandatory.

Every ship of 100 gross tonnage and above, every ship certified to carry 15 or more people and fixed/ floating platforms are required to carry and implement a Garbage Management Plan that specifies procedures to be followed to ensure proper and efficient handling and storage of garbage.  
 

For your reference please find below :
•    MEPC.277(70) - Amendments to MARPOL Annex V
•    MEPC.295(71) - 2017 implementation guideline of MARPOL V
 
 
For more information regarding the issue please do not hesitate to contact us.

February 21st , 2018 – PHRS Head Office