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• Panama Maritime Authority has issued Merchant Marine Circular, MMC-340 (copy attached) providing guidance on the application of the new Annex 14 of the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS Code) for new and existing ships designed and fitted for the carriage of containers on deck.

• The aim of the new Annex 14 – “Guidance on Providing Safe Working Conditions for Securing of Containers on Deck” is to ensure that persons engaged in carrying out container securing operations on deck have safe working conditions and in particular, safe access, appropriate securing equipment and safe place of work.

• New container ships, the keels of which are laid on or after 1 July 2017, shall apply the new Annex 14 of the CSS Code entirely.

• Existing container ships, the keels of which are laid or which are at a similar stage of construction before 1 July 2017;

• Shall apply Section 4.4 (Training and familiarization), Section 7.1 (Introduction), Section 7.3 (Maintenance); and Section 8 (Specialized Container Safety Design) of new Annex 14 by the first survey related to the Safety Construction Certificate on or after 1 July 2018; and

• Ship owners are encouraged to apply the principles of relevant guidance contained in the new Annex 14, section 6 (Design) and section 7.2 (Operational Procedures), as far as practicable, with the understanding that existing ships would not be required to be enlarged or undergo other major structural modifications as determined by the Administration. As a minimum, existing container ships shall comply with these requirements by the first scheduled dry-docking on or after 1 July 2018, but not later than 1 July 2023.

• Shipowners/ Operators of existing ships are encouraged to include procedures for cargo safe access plan (CSAP) in accordance with chapter 5 of MSC.1/Circ.1353/ Rev.1 in implementing the guidelines in section 4.3 of M SC.1/Circ.1352/Rev.1 – Annex 14 at the next revision of the approved Cargo Securing Manual.

• Port and terminal operators may implement differing requirements. Ship owners/ operators and masters are advised to enquire with the competent authorities of the ports which their ships are calling on any additional requirements.

• Ship owners/ operators and masters are advised to be guided by above.

Enclosure:  

1. Panama Merchant Marine Circular MMC-340
2. 1/Circ.1352/Rev.1

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