Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) revised their Merchant Marine Circular MMC-217 for Ship-to-ship (STS) operations for Panamanian-flagged ships. Please note the following points on the Ship-to-ship (STS) Operations Plan for Panamanian-flagged ships

1. Applicability
All Panamanian-flagged Oil Tankers of 150 gross tonnage and above, engaged in the transfer of oil cargo between oil tankers (STS operations) wherever they are located except for followings:
･ Bunkering operations;
･ STS operations within the territorial sea or exclusive economic zone of Panama must follow the provisions of Resolution J.D. No. 038-2022 of 25 August 2022;
･ Oil transfer operations associated with fixed or floating platforms, including drilling rigs;
･ FPSOs used for the offshore production and storage of oil; and FSUs used for the offshore storage of produced oil;
･ STS operations necessary for securing the safety of a ship or saving lives at sea, or combating specific pollution incidents to minimize damage from pollution;
･ STS operations where either of the ships involved is a warship, naval auxiliary or other ship owned or operated by a State and used, for the time being, only on government non-commercial service.
･ Fishing vessels.
･ Vessels engaged in Fishing related activities.

2. Additional requirements
(1) It is necessary to amend STS Operation Plan to include the following information in the STS transfer notification to the Flag Administration.
･ Name, flag, call sign, IMO Number and estimated time of arrival of the oil tankers involved in the STS transfer operation.
･ Date, time and geographical position of the commencement of the planned STS transfer operation.
･ Mode in which the STS transfer operation will be carried out: at anchor or underway.
･ Type of oil and its quantity.
･ Expected duration of the STS transfer operation.
･ Identification and contact information (email, telephone number) of the Designated Person Ashore (DPA) of each oil tanker involved in the STS operation.

(To be continued)