Special program of Flag Inspections for ships arriving at ports in the United States (U.S.)

C22025 | 01 August 2022

NOTICE TO
Ship Owners/ Managers/ Operators

The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) has made efforts to eliminate substandard ships and has focused on improving efforts to ingress the United States Coast Guard (USCG) QUALSHIP 21 (Q21) program with reference to Merchant Marine Notice, MMN-08/2022.

The date of implementation for the special program,  01 August 2022.

This special program of flag inspections will be implemented for ships arriving at ports in the United States and having history (Detentions, Deficiencies, RO, Company, Type of ship, Age, etc.) that makes them candidates for Port State Inspection (PSC) by the USCG.

The purpose of the inspection will be to avoid detentions and achieve the Q21 program.

Shipowners, Managers, Operators and masters are therefore urged to ensure that any ships calling at ports in the USA are fully prepared for the possibility of a PSC inspection by the USCG

For this special flag inspection, if required, the Shipowners/Managers/Operator will bear the travel, food, and lodging expenses of the PMA Flag Inspector designated to attend to their ships.

Futhermore Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) has informed that non-compliance with the provisions of this marine notice will be subject to sanction. Refusing for the first time carries a penalty of 10,000.00 USD. The recurrence will be grounds for the cancellation of the PMA registry immediately.

Act now

Ship Owners/ Managers/ Operators flagged by Panama Maritime Authority (PMA)  are urged to incorporate the above guidelines.