Panama Oil Record Book and Emissions (Amendments and Guidelines)

C23070 | 16 November 2023

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

This circular is issued to advise that the Panama Maritime Authority has reissued their Merchant Marine Circular MMC-215, giving guidance on the proper upkeep of the current Panama official Oil Record Book, now named Oil Record Book and Emissions, in accordance with MARPOL 73/78 as amended.

The revised circular MMC-215 also replaces circular MMC-177.

This Record Book contains amendments to the previous Oil Record Book Part I & Part II, stipulated under Resolution MEPC 187(59) which entered into force on 01 January 2011. It also has instructions (Part III) for recording actions carried out on board, per Resolution MEPC 176(58) which entered into force on 01 July 2010, and Resolution MEPC 271(69) which entered into force on 01 September 2017. These instructions relate to:

• Ozone-depleting substances.
• Low sulphur fuel oil.
• Vapor collection system (in tankers)
• Incinerators.
• Record requirements for operational compliance with NOx Tier III emission control areas.

The circular provides hyperlinks that lead to instructions on how to complete each of the three parts of the “Oil Record Book and Emissions” viz:

• Part I – Machinery Space Operations (All Ships)
• Part II – Cargo and Ballast Operations (Tankers)
• Part III – Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships (All Ships)

It should be noted that Part III contains a correction to the metric system for reporting density of SOX, the corrected unit of measurement is Kg/m3.

The circular notes that the IMO MEPC1/Circ.736/Rev.2 provides advice and examples on recording operations in Part I of the Oil Record Book and Emissions.

The revised circular clarifies that entries in the Oil Record Book and Emissions have the purpose of registering various operations in chronological order as they have been executed onboard, and gives recommendations for entries to be
made during drydocking.

A new section has been added giving the Panama Administration’s requirements for oil tankers of less than 150 gross tonnes to:

• have onboard the Panamanian official Oil Record Book and Emissions, and
• record in Part II, all operations carried out to control the discharge of oil.

Act now

All Ship Owners / Managers / Operators / Surveyors / Auditors should take careful note of the Circular, and ensure that the Oil Record Book and Emissions are recorded accurately and in the required format.

Owners/ Managers/ and Operators of Oil tankers of less than 150 gross tonnes must ensure that the Panamanian official Oil Record Book and Emissions is onboard and that relevant personnel are aware of the required entries and formats.