Panama's "laid-up" Register
(Maritime Globalo Net) The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) has created a special registry for vessels registered under the flag of Panama that are laid up due to the world financial crisis. The measure reduces registry fees by 40% to 50% and the vessels included in the Laid Up Registry need neither full crew manning nor regular inspections.
According to a press statement the special registry will be valid for one-year period, and could be extended by one additional year. The Resolution 106-09 of February 9, 2009 that creates the Special Registry, warns the owner or ship operators that the vessel, registered under the Lay Up Special Registry Patent cannot be used for navigation and should comply will all the minimum safety and pollution prevention requirements for the purpose of not being a potential danger to the environment or the port where the vessel is laid up.
“If the vessel does not comply with this regulation it could be deleted for our registry, according to the formalities of the law,” says the Merchant Marine Director General Alfonso Castillero.
“We consider it was necessary to take administrative actions to mitigate the crisis and reduce our customers and ship owners’ actual financial load,” adds Mr. Castillero. “The owner can reactivate the vessel whenever he decides to do it, providing there is an inspection by a Recognized Organization (RO) covering the following conditions: safety, contamination prevention, marine protection and compliance with all national and international regulations applicable to the vessel, after which the RO will certify that the vessel satisfies national and international regulations.”
Panama’s Merchant Marine totalled 8,487 vessels and 180 179m gt at the end of March, keeping its position as the largest register.
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Original Source: Maritime Global Net
Date Retrieved: May 9, 2009
