The purpose of this Technical Note is to inform the measurements taken by the Panamanian Flag to reduce Port State Control (PSC) detentions and improve the performance of her vessels, with the cooperation of recognized organizations, shipowners and ship operators as well as other interested parties.
Measurements to be applied as preventive-corrective actions to reduce PSC detentions
RO’s surveyors on board Panama flagged vessels shall paid attention to the following main items including on the “Top Deficiencies” (most frequent detainable deficiencies) on MoU´s annual reports, but not limited to:
- Validity of all Statutory Certificates (including annual/intermediate endorsements).
- Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) in general.
- Lifeboat falls (including renewal) (including reversal dates, when is requested by manufacturer).
- Liferafts servicing (dates).
- Fire Fighting Systems & Equipment (in general).
- Emergency Fire Pumps (last test). 7. Fire detention & alarm system (last service).
- Pyrotechnics (expiry date or expiration date).
- Records of weekly/monthly drills and equipment inspections (log book’s entries, SMS records).
- Nautical Publications & Charts (up to date).
- Oil Record Book + Oil Filtering Equipment (MARPOL 73/78 Annex I).
- Any outstanding statutory items and/or conditions of class (verify last class survey).
- Personnel Familiarization & Responsibility (ISM Code – Section 6).
- Maintenance of the Ship and Equipment (ISM Code – Section 10).
- Working & Living Conditions (MLC, 2006).
Additional Measurements adopted to reduce PSC detentions:
As a result of the analysis of the detentions of Panamanian flag vessels has determined to increase the scope of applicability of the occasional survey and it will apply to vessels more than 10 years old. Although the rest of the parameters remain the same, the Recognized Organizations are asked to give special emphasis to the following type of vessels that suffer the most detentions, bulk carrier and general cargo, with less than 10,000 GRT.
The Panamanian flag adopt the following measurement: “each ship older than ten (10) years of construction and considered with a high-risk factor by the United States Coast Guard (USCG), Paris MOU and the Tokyo MOU, shall be subject to an Occasional Survey, carried out by the RO that issued the SMC Certificate.
This Occasional Survey must be carried out prior to arrival or at the time of arrival to the United States Coast Guard (USCG), to the Paris MOU, Australian ports (AMSA-Australian Maritime Safety Authority) or Chinese ports (MSA-Maritime Safety Administration).
When the Occasional Survey is completed, the Recognized Organization must issue a Declaration of Compliance of the Occasional Survey, valid for six (6) months and it shall be submitted to Navigation & Maritime Safety Department, in a period not exceeding five (5) from the completion of the survey, along with the inspection report. The inspection report will include the following specifications, but not limited to:
a) Ship Particulars
b) Minimum Manning on board is in compliance with Minimum Safe Manning Certificate issued by the Administration.
c) Certificate of Competence of the crew.
d) Technical Certification
e) Applicable Plans and Records
f) Condition of: Hull & Deck, Cargo Holds & Hatch Covers, Engine, Navigation Bridge, Mooring and anchoring equipment.
g) Rescue, Fire Fighting & Life Saving Appliance Equipment ready for use.
h) Safety Management System: compliance with maintenance plans and inspections, familiarization and crew drill training and its entries, internal audits, closure of Non-Conformities (including previous PSC deficiencies), declaration of the designated person and declaration of the company, etc.
i) ISPS: vessel access control, updated CSR updated.
j) MLC: on-board contracts properly signed, payment of wages, hours of rest and work, insurance according to rule 4.2 and 2.5 of this convention, maintenance and cleaning in accommodations, corridors, cabins, decks, cold room, dining rooms, galley, fans and air conditioners.
k) Conclusions: comments on the general condition of the ship.
l) Annex: photos and supporting evidence of the inspection,
