The Panama Ship Registry has introduced new digital services to enable it to give an immediate response to shipowners during the crisis created by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Registry has introduced from 13 April electronic Ship Registration and electronic Radio Licences issued by the 13 international offices and/or by the 53 consulates offices. These documents are validated through QRs and bar codes. The Registry has so far in use 10 electronic certificates, and eight more in process of been digitalised.
These new forms include the following features: papers less initiative – ecofriendly, documents self-protected from unauthorized editions, a unique sequential number assigned and controlled only by the Panama Maritime Authority Directorate of Merchant Marine (the Ship Registry), QR code (two-dimensional bar code), that leads to an application displaying the information of the document in a real time, thus evidencing its authenticity. So, any authority or any third party could confirm the validity of the documents scanned by a simple QR reader available in app store and/or play store at any giving time.
The Panamanian Consulates issue the Provisional Ship Registration and Radio Licence in hard copy. “We are introducing the use of digital signature. Both options - paper and electronic format - are going to be kept and functional onboard so we make sure all ship´s owners and their vessels are provided with the documents they need in a real time. There will be a transition period. By keeping both options, we guaranty smooth transition,” said direction of merchant marine and head of the Ship Registry, Rafael Cigarruista.
Panama Ship Registry has developed several actions with respect to the COVID-19. Around some 500 vessels have requested support for which the 13 International Technical Offices - Segumar Offices - have granted authorizations, extensions, special authorizations, due to COVID-19: Seafarers Employment’s Agreements; Equipment (LSA / FFE ) Inspection extension; Dry Dock Extension (under case by case bases); Conditional Certificate granted; Statutory Certificates Extensions; ISM & ISPS Audit Extension; Crew Dispensation; Revalidation of Certificates; Non-Compliant Fuel Oil and Reinstatement.
In addition, the Panama Ship Registry has reviewed the application of about 7 Recognized Organizations (RO´s) and has granted the authorizations for the implementation of the remote survey methods/scheme, “which is done on a case by case basis,” he explains. Flag and Port State inspections - monitoring and closure stages -, are carried out remotely, “we are doing this from long time ago, so we are 100% operational,” said Cigarruista.
