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1. This Technical Circular supersedes and revokes our earlier Technical Circular No. 026/2020 dated 28 March 2020.

2. Panama Maritime Authority has issued updated Merchant Marine Notice No. MMN-07-2020 (copy attached) providing following interim measures in respect of postponement/ extension of statutory certification and services due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

3. Recognized Organizations are allowed to:
   
   A. Postpone/Extend all surveys, audits and inspections for a period of three (3) months, subject to a subsequent revalidation or reinstatement of the correspondent certificate.
   
      Accordingly, the Recognized Organization (RO) are required to ensure that

   1. All statutory certificates remains valid using remote surveys or visits whenever possible.  However, in those cases that a remote survey or visits are not possible to be carried out, the RO is authorized to maintain the validity of the statutory certificate for the grace period aforementioned. 
      
      
   2. All records justifying each case according to the circumstances are to be kept and remain available to any Port State Control Authority and as well as this Administration.
      
      

   B. Annual servicing of life saving appliances and firefighting equipment with due date between March and May 2020, are allowed for an immediate extension valid for one (1) month subject to the agreement of the Recognized Organization. Extensions required for a longer period will be granted on a case by case basis, for the maximum period of three (3) months provided that supporting evidence of each case is presented to extensions@segumar.com
   
   C. Ship-owners/operators of ships currently holding a Conditional Certificate related to a deficiency or damage onboard, are required to contact the Administration if the necessary malfunction, repair or administrative related matter is not possible to rectify, carry out or be provided. An email along with supporting evidence of each case is to be sent to conditionals@segumar.com. Ensure that Recognized Organization responsible to issue the correspondent certificates is in agreement with the conditions on board.
   
   

   D. The validity of all statutory certificates (except for Conditional Certificates) expiring between March and May 2020 are extended exceptionally for a period of three (3) months, including among them:

   1. Maritime Labour Certificate (MLC, 2006)
      
      
   2. Safety Management Certificate (SMC)
      
      
   3. Document of Compliance (DOC)
      
      
   4. International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC)
      
      
   5. International Tonnage Certificate (ITC-69)
      
      
   6. International Ballast Water Management Certificate (IBWMC)
      
      
   7. Exemption Certificates

   
   
   E. Colour copy of original signed Ships Registry Certificates (Patent) and Radio Station
   License issued by the Administration are considered valid for three (3) months, from its issue date.
   
   F. Soft copy of Exemption certificates and Minimum Safe Manning Certificates for MODU/MOU issued by the Administration are considered valid for three (3) months, from its issue date.
   
   G. The postponement/Extension of the inspection of the outside ships’ bottom will continue to be processed on a case by case basis as per the guidelines provided in Merchant Marine Circular No.204.

4. Ship owners/ operators and masters of Panama flagged ships are advised to be guided by above.

Enclosure: 

• Panama Merchant Marine Notice No. –MMN- 07/2020.

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.

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