Technical Circular No: 131/2020
Download PDF1. Panama Maritime Authority has launched a Concentrated Inspection Campaign on ISPS Code, which will examine specific areas related to the ISPS Code in conjunction with the regular Port State Control inspections by Panama.
2. The purpose of the campaign is to ensure that:
• The vessels and their crew are familiar with the requirements of the ISPS Code.
• Master and crew of the ship understand their assigned roles and duties in case of emergency and enhance their familiarity with the situations so that they can act immediately when circumstances arise.
3. Companies are advised to be guided by the attached MMN-17/2020 and prepare for possible PSC inspection.
4. Following is non-exhaustive list of requirements that may be verified during the campaign.
• Vessel is operating at the appropriate security level as specified by the flag Administration or the Port State.
• Vessel maintains a record of last ten ports of call and the security level maintained at these ports.
• Master, Ship Security Officer (SSO) and crew members are aware of all ship security levels and applicable procedures at each level.
• Ship Security Officer and other personnel with security duties are trained and certified in accordance with STCW requirements.
• Access to ship is controlled and crew members on watch are familiar with the access control measures at each security level. This includes continuous gangway watch, when in use.
• Restricted areas have been identified, access to restricted areas is controlled and crew members are aware of access control measures applied to these areas.
• Stores, spares & provisions are searched in accordance with measures given the SSP and are crew members aware of their responsibilities.
• Master, Ship Security Officer (SSO) and crew members aware of risks associated with cyber security.
• Shipboard security training and drills are periodically carried out in accordance with SSP.
• Crew members are aware of their responsibility to report security incidents & breaches of security and take timely corrective and preventive actions.
• Ship Security alert System (SSAS) is operational, tested periodically and records maintained.
• For ships transiting the High Risk Area (HRA), the crew are fully briefed on the preparations, in accordance with their SSP, well prior to entering the HRA.
5. For Panama flag ships, following is a non-exhaustive list of Flag specific requirements, as given in Panama Merchant Marine Circulars #359, #133, #371 and #321, that may be verified during the campaign:
• Company Security Officer (CSO) has Declaration of the CSO duly endorsed by the Panama Maritime Authority.
• Vessels has carried out Annual SSAS Test (according to MMC-133) in period no longer than twelve (12) calendar months through the use of the electronic platform (https://polestarglobal.force.com/SSAS/login) and confirmation message from the electronic platform is available on board as evidence.
• If due to special circumstance the ISPS verification could not be completed within the established window period, the Company has requested the Flag Administration to postpone the ISPS verification prior to the expiration of certificate / due date window.
• Company has applied to Panama Maritime Authority for issuance of full term ISSC, after completion of initial verification, prior to the expiration of Interim ISSC. And in case of renewal verification, prior expiration of short term ISSC issued by RSO.
6. The campaign will target all ships, regardless of type, and will end on 30th December 2020.
Enclosure:
Disclaimer:
This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.