- The initiative aims to speed up operations and uphold high safety standards.
- Model reduces costs, delays, and environmental impact while improving compliance.
- Physical inspections remain mandatory on first entry, valid for one year.
This initiative highlights the Canal’s ongoing dedication to ensuring smooth maritime traffic while upholding top-notch safety standards. The new system aims to streamline operations, making them faster and more efficient, while also simplifying compliance with international regulations, cutting down operational costs, and promoting sustainable inspection practices, reports Canal De Panama.
Key Benefits
The Canal will boost transparency and traceability for audits, cut down on inspection-related delays, and lessen environmental impact. Crews will enjoy more time to prepare for operations, leading to smoother, safer, and more profitable navigation experiences.
Inspection Process
Every vessel entering the Panama Canal’s jurisdictional waters will still go through a physical inspection by a canal admeasurer, just like before. Each inspection will be valid for one year. After this initial check, vessels may qualify for digital inspections on their next visits, as long as they meet certain criteria.
Qualification Requirements
To qualify for digital inspections, vessels need to have a valid inspection for the intended operation, submit all visit information requirements completely and on time, ensure the Naval Inspection Checklist accurately reflects the current condition of the vessel, and keep all documentation updated in the system. Additionally, the vessel’s risk level evaluation must not show any high-risk factors.
Risk Assessment Criteria
Risk assessment will primarily consider:
- Vessel type
- Vessel age
- Deficiency history
- Flag state
- Classification society
Valid Inspection Types
- Transit inspection: Complete vessel inspection valid for transit, docking, and anchorage calls
- Docking inspection: Partial vessel inspection valid for docking and anchorage calls
- Anchorage inspection: Partial vessel inspection valid only for anchorage calls
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Source: Canal De Panama
