Panama has issued circular regarding RSOs, reports, and fees

The Panama Maritime Authority has issued a merchant marine circular regarding Authorized Recognized Security Organizations (RSO), reports, and fees.

This circular serves as guidance on SOLAS Convention amendments and the new Maritime Security and ISPS Code chapters.

It applies to all stakeholders, listing authorized Recognized Security Organizations (RSO) for Interim ISSC, Short Term Certificate, and Ship Security Plan Approvals Certificate issuance.

Compliance with PMA regulations concerning certificate issuance, endorsements, plan approvals, and audit reports is essential.

Key Points:

International maritime security enhancements were adopted during the December 2002 Diplomatic Conference on Maritime Security in London, amending SOLAS 1974 and introducing the ISPS Code, implemented globally on July 1st, 2004.
In recognition of the ISPS Code's significance, Panama Maritime Authority established the Maritime Ships Security Department.
Panama Maritime Authority has integrated Recognized Security Organizations (RSO) into the ISPS Code implementation.

Recognized RSOs

The Panama Maritime Authority has recognized as the RSOs responsible for the Evaluation of Ship Security Plans (SSP):

1. AMERICAN BUREAU OF SHIPPING.
2. BUREAU VERITAS MARINE & OFFSHORE SAS (Technical Certificate
BUREAU VERITAS).
3. CR CLASSIFICATION SOCIETY.
4. CROATIAN REGISTER OF SHIPPING.
5. CHINA CLASSIFICATION SOCIETY.
6. DNV AS (Technical Certificate DNV).
7. INDIAN REGISTER OF SHIPPING.
8. INTERMARITIME CERTIFICATION SERVICES S.A.
9. INTERNATIONAL MARITIME REGISTER (PANAMA), INC.
10. INTERNATIONAL NAVAL SURVEYS BUREAU, S.A. (I.N.S.B).
11. INTERNATIONAL REGISTER OF SHIPPING (PANAMA) INC.
12. ISTHMUS BUREAU OF SHIPPING.
13. KOREAN REGISTER OF SHIPPING.
14. LLOYD’S REGISTER GROUP LIMITED.
15. MACOSNAR CORPORATION.
16. NATIONAL SHIPPING ADJUSTER INC.
17. NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI.
18. OVERSEAS MARINE CERTIFICATION SERVICES, INC. (O.M.C.S.).
19. PANAMA MARITIME DOCUMENTATION SERVICES INC.
20. PANAMA SHIPPING REGISTRAR, INC.
21. PHOENIX REGISTER OF SHIPPING, S.A.
22. POLSKI REJESTR STATKÓW S.A.
23. QUALITAS REGISTER OF SHIPPING S.A.
24. RINA SERVICES S.p.A.
25. RUSSIAN MARITIME REGISTER OF SHIPPING.
26. TÜRK LOYDU UYGUNLUK DEGERLENDIRME HIZMETLERI ANONIM SIRKETI (Technical Certificate TÜRK LOYDU).
27. DROMON BUREAU OF SHIPPING LIMITED.
28. NEW UNITED (INT’L) MARINE SERVICES LIMITED.
29. EMIRATES CLASSIFICATION SOCIETY (TASNEEF) L.L.C.
30. RS CLASSIFICATION SERVICES SINGLE-MEMBER PRIVATE COMPANY,
INC.
31. PANAMA CLASSIFICATION BUREAU INC.

List of RSO(s) officially acknowledged for the Verification Process

After assessing the Ship Security Plan (SSP) by any of the aforementioned RSO(s), ship-owners will receive notification of approval. This notification enables them to get in touch with an RSO (Verifier) to initiate the onboard verification process. The following list of RSO(s) has been officially acknowledged for the Verification Process, enabling them to issue Interim ISSC and Short-term certificates as outlined in MMC-359:

1. AMERICAN BUREAU OF SHIPPING.
2. BUREAU VERITAS MARINE & OFFSHORE SAS (Technical Certificate
BUREAU VERITAS).
3. CR CLASSIFICATION SOCIETY.
4. CROATIAN REGISTER OF SHIPPING.
5. CHINA CLASSIFICATION SOCIETY.
6. DNV AS (Technical Certificate DNV). 7. INDIAN REGISTER OF SHIPPING.
8. INTERMARITIME CERTIFICATION SERVICES S.A.
9. INTERNATIONAL MARITIME REGISTER (PANAMA), INC.
10. INTERNATIONAL NAVAL SURVEYS BUREAU, S.A. (I.N.S.B).
11. INTERNATIONAL REGISTER OF SHIPPING (PANAMA) INC.
12. ISTHMUS BUREAU OF SHIPPING.
13. KOREAN REGISTER OF SHIPPING.
14. LLOYD’S REGISTER GROUP LIMITED.
15. MACOSNAR CORPORATION.
16. NATIONAL SHIPPING ADJUSTER INC.
17. NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI.
18. OVERSEAS MARINE CERTIFICATION SERVICES, INC. (O.M.C.S.).
19. PANAMA MARITIME DOCUMENTATION SERVICES INC.
20. PANAMA SHIPPING REGISTRAR, INC.
21. PHOENIX REGISTER OF SHIPPING, S.A.
22. POLSKI REJESTR STATKÓW S.A.
23. QUALITAS REGISTER OF SHIPPING S.A.
24. RINA SERVICES S.p.A.
25. RUSSIAN MARITIME REGISTER OF SHIPPING.
26. TÜRK LOYDU UYGUNLUK DEGERLENDIRME HIZMETLERI ANONIM
SIRKETI (Technical Certificate TÜRK LOYDU).
27. DROMON BUREAU OF SHIPPING LIMITED.
28. NEW UNITED (INT’L) MARINE SERVICES LIMITED.
29. EMIRATES CLASSIFICATION SOCIETY (TASNEEF) L.L.C.
30. RS CLASSIFICATION SERVICES SINGLE-MEMBER PRIVATE COMPANY,
INC.
31. PANAMA CLASSIFICATION BUREAU INC.

Reporting requirements

In accordance with Merchant Marine Circular (MMC-159), all Recognized Security Organizations (RSOs) are required to electronically submit a monthly report to ro-panama@segumar.com.

This report should detail Ship Security Plan Approvals (SSP) and Intermediate International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC) Endorsements, and it should include the following information:

a) Vessel Name
b) IMO Number
c) Certificate Type (Endorsement or Approval)
d) Certificate or Approval Number
e) Date of Issuance or Approval
f) Expiration Date (if applicable)
g) Surcharge Amount (as per MMC-324)
h) Approval Certificate Number
i) Type of Audit (Endorsement)
j) Audit Date (Endorsement)
k) Audit Location (Endorsement)

Fees

As stipulated in Resolution J.D. No. 076-2021, dated October 28, 2021, and MMC-324, the following fees have been established for approvals, emissions, re-emissions, endorsements, and any modifications to plans.

These fees must be remitted to this Administration starting from the aforementioned date: