Long-Range Identification and Tracking of Panamanian Ships (LRIT).

C23026 | 29 May 2023

Notice to: Ship Owners/ Managers/ Operators/ Surveyors/ Auditors

This circular is issued with the purpose to inform that from July 1^st, 2023, all Conformance Test Reports pertaining to Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) equipment issued on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Panama will be issued as electronic documents.

The conformance test is required in the following cases:

• All new installations
• In cases of changes of flag
• In cases of change of owner
• After one year from the initial/latest conformance test performed upon the registration of the vessel under the Panama Flag

To comply with this annual conformance test, Panamanian flagged vessels shall follow this timetable:

1. Vessels having the conformance test completed prior to December 2018, should complete the test before the end of September 2023.
2. Vessels having the conformance test completed between January 1^st, 2019 and December 31^st, 2021 should complete the test before the end of November 2023
3. Vessels having the conformance test completed after January 1^st, 2022, should complete the test before December 31^st, 2023

Vessels whose proof of Conformance Test is less than one year old, must carry out the Conformance Test when the existing Conformance Test Report is one year old.

Act now

Ship Owners/ Managers/ Operators/ Surveyors/ Auditors should take into consideration the Merchant Marine Circular MMC-195, pay due attention to the Conformance Test Renewal Scheme, and ensure that conformance tests are completed as detailed.

The Circular also reminds that deliberate deactivation of LRIT or the Automatic Identification System (AIS) may be subject to sanctions, and that it is mandatory that such equipment maintains a permanent and adequate operation.