The Panama Maritime Authority has revised Merchant Marine Circular MMC-195 (May 2023) regarding the implementation of LRIT Conformance Test for Panama flagged ship. The revised circular added points 13., 14. and 15. mainly with the aim of greater control of the Panamanian Fleet (LRIT). Major revised parts from the previous version are as follows.

- The LRIT conformance test shall be carried out within one year from the initial/latest conformance test, in addition to cases of all new installations, changes of flag and change of owner. To comply with this annual conformance test, Panamanian vessels shall follow the timetable as below:
(1) Vessels having the conformance test completed prior to 31 December 2018, should complete the test before the end of September 2023.
(2) Vessels having the conformance test completed between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2021, should complete the test before the end of November 2023
(3) Vessels having the conformance test completed after 1 January 2022, should complete the test before 31 December 2023.
Vessels that have successfully completed a Conformance Test before 1 July 2023, and request their first annual Conformance Test Report between 1 July 2023 and 31 December 2023 (but the conformance test was carried out within one year), will be allowed to obtain an the below updated annual Conformance Test Report. (Refer to point 14.5)
Please refer to point 13. of the circular about test and contact information.
- Conformance Test Report (CTR), which is with a QR code, valid for one year will be issued when the Annual Conformance Test is completed. During SE surveys which are carried out after the above (1) to (3), ClassNK's surveyor would confirm whether the latest CTR is valid. It is not necessary to arrange the Annual Conformance Test at the timing of SE surveys.
- All Panamanian registered vessels that deliberately deactivate the LRIT may be subject to be sanctioned in accordance with point 15. of the circular.

For further details, please refer to the relevant Merchant Marine Circular posted on the following website.
URL: https://panamashipregistry.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/MMC-195-LRIT-May-2023-Rev-MR-FINAL.pdf

(To be continued)