The Panama Maritime Authority has issued a circular (MMC-344) outlining restrictions on the recognition of seafarer documentation issued by certain other maritime administrations. This circular aims to ensure the validity and authenticity of seafarer credentials within the Panamanian ship registry, according to Marine Regulations News.
Purpose Of Circular
The Panama Maritime Authority has issued a circular to inform stakeholders about new restrictions on recognizing seafarer documents issued by certain countries. These measures aim to maintain the integrity and high standards of the Panamanian ship registry by ensuring the validity and authenticity of seafarer credentials.
Scope and Documentation
This Circular applies to a wide range of stakeholders, including seafarers, ship owners, operators, Panamanian-flagged companies, maritime administrations of STCW Convention member states, recognized organizations (ROs), private consulates of Panama, brokers, and those authorized to handle seafarer documentation. All parties are obligated to comply with the provisions outlined in this Circular.
The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) will continue to recognize and endorse Certificates of Competency (CoC) and Certificates of Proficiency (CoP) issued by countries that are parties to the STCW 1978 Convention. This recognition is detailed in Merchant Marine Circular MMC-343. However, this recognition is subject to the restrictions outlined in this Circular.
The term “Non-National” in this context refers to an individual who was not born or naturalized in the country that issued their seafarer documentation. This distinction highlights the lack of a direct national connection between the individual and the issuing country.
The Panama Maritime Authority reserves the right to require additional supporting documentation as part of the process of recognition by endorsement. This applies to all seafarer documentation, including Certificates of Competency, Certificates of Proficiency, Course Certificates, and Seaman’s Books. The PMA may specify further documentation requirements through the appropriate administrative channels.
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Source: Marine Regulations News
