Recently, the Consulate General of the Republic of Panama Tokyo, Japan has issued a Circular, as attached, dated 24th February 1999 to shipowners, operators and/or agents of vessels under Panamanian Registry, informing that the General Directorate of Merchant Marine, Maritime Authority of Panama will require at the time of registration of DRY CARGO and GENERAL CARGO vessels, the presentation of a Certification or Communication by a Technical Company acknowledged by the Republic of Panama to issue the ISM Certificate (this Society has been acknowledged).

The intention of this requirement is to confirm the date on which the ISM Code become mandatory to the vessel seeking for registration.

Ship Management Assessing Division, Head Office, of this Society has been issuing Certificate to attest the date of application of ISM Code for a ship, on the request of shipowner or managing company, with fee.
They say that this Certificate is to be regarded as a Certificate or Communication mentioned above.

Attachment :
Circular "ISM CODE DOCUMENTS APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATING VESSELS"
No.002-99 issued on February 9, 1999 at New York & on February 24, 1999 at Tokyo


If you need more information about these matters, please do not hesitate to contact us. (ClassNK Ship Management Assessing Division, Head Office, Tokyo, Tel: 81-3-5226-2034, Fax: 81-3-5226-2030)