INTLREG NEWS

The reviews of the 2019 Panamanians vessels performance, shown an increased number of detentions in some regions. Therefore, the Panama Maritime Authority issued revised marine circular to provide advice on how to reduce Port State Control (PSC) detentions of Panama flagged vessels, with the cooperation of recognized organizations, shipowners and ship operators as well as other interested parties.

In order to comply with safety, security and environmental regulations for a better maritime industry, there no place in our registry for substandard vessels; which can affect directly our flag reputation in all the Port State Control Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs). the Panama Maritime Authority highlighted.

As explained, RO’s are responsible for a permanent verification of MoU´s websites to determine the status of vessels under its supervision. Namely, RO’s are responsible for the handling of detentions, including the investigation, analysis and determination of deficiencies root-cause, recommendations including preventive/corrective actions and follow actions to avoid future occurrence of major detentions, all information shall be sent to the Port State Control section as soon as possible to avoid delays to the vessel.

RO’s surveyors on board Panama flagged vessels shall be paid attention to the following main items including on the “Top Deficiencies” (most frequent detainable deficiencies) on MoU´s annual reports, but not limited to:

1.Validity of all Statutory Certificates (including annual/intermediate
endorsements).
2. Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) in general.
3. Lifeboat falls (including renewal and reversal dates).
4. Liferafts servicing (dates).
5. Fire Fighting Systems & Equipment (in general).
6. Emergency Fire Pumps (last test).
7. Fire detention & alarm system(last service)

8. Pyrotechnics (expiry date or expiration date).
9. Records of weekly/monthly drills and equipment inspections (log book’s
entries, SMS records).
10. Nautical Publications & Charts (up to date).
11. Oil Record Book + Oil Filtering Equipment (MARPOL 73/78 Annex I).
12. Any outstanding statutory items and/or conditions of class (verify last class
survey).
13. Personnel Familiarization & Responsibility (ISM Code – Section 6).
14. Maintenance of the Ship and Equipment (ISM Code – Section 10).
15. Working & Living Conditions (MLC, 2006).

In this regard, Ship-Owners, operators, technical manager and Company Designated Person Ashore (DPA) together with Ship’s Master are responsible to establish on board a pre-arrival verification, taken into account the items mentioned on the previous paragraph; which must be verified at least 24 hours before arrival at ports in order to avoid detentions and deficiencies.

The objective evidence about these pre-arrival verifications conducted by the vessel, shall be maintained on board the vessel at all the time as evidence; which can be presented at request of Flag State inspector during the Annual Safety Inspection (ASI).

If an extraordinariness issues, such as equipment failures or any others situations that cannot be resolve on board of the vessel immediately; Ship-Owners, operators, technical managers, DPA together or vessel´s Master, shall immediately coordinate the effective corrective actions, together with the vessel Recognized Organization (R.O,) and Segumar Offices.

At the same time, PSC Authority shall be informed as requested by regulation 11 “Maintenance of conditions after survey”, SOLAS Chapter I.

The Panama Maritime Authority highlights that in order to improve the information exchange regarding Port State Control (PSC)
Inspections to Panamanian Flagged vessels, ship operators need to  send immediately all PSC Inspection Reports as well as the corrective actions taken onboard to Port State Control Section.

The PSC section accepts as corrective actions: 1. The format used by the company safety management system; describing the
deficiencies, corrective actions, root cause analysis and preventive actions taken. ; 2. The Occasional Survey (OS) report format issued by the RO (,) who performed the visit of the vessel to verified the deficiencies raised and the corrective actions.

International Register of Shipping is a recognized Organization approved for the issuance of the Class Certificate by Panama Maritime Authority. Users of the Panamanian Registry can contact #INTLREG at services@intlreg.org for any requirements related to the Class Certificates in accordance with the provisions of the International Conventions ratified by the Republic of Panama.

With the initial reporting validity for the IMO DCS expiring on 31 Dec 2019 and the deadline for reporting the data to the Administration / Recognised Organisation also having expired on 31 Mar 2020. A Statement of Compliance (SoC) provided by the Administration / Recognised organisation should be on board by 31 May 2020.

This statutory news is a reminder on how to stay in compliance with regulation 22A of MARPOL Annex VI

Regulation 22A of MARPOL Annex VI requires ships to collect and report data on their fuel consumption, starting from 1 January 2019. For ships to which this regulation applies it is mandatory that a valid Statement of compliance is readily available on-board for inspection together with the Confirmation of Compliance for the SEEMP part II.

The Confirmation of Compliance (SEEMP part II) and the validity of the Statement of Compliance (IMO DCS) will be verified at each Periodical Statutory Survey regardless of whether the IMO DCS is issued by Administration / RO or any other organisation approved by the flag administration. As this is a new requirement, we expect that Port State Control (PSC) will focus on the Statement of Compliance (IMO DCS) during any upcoming routine inspections. Non Compliance of IMO DCS can be a detainable deficiency.

Statement of Compliance shall be issued annually and is also required to be issued during Change of flag or Company. Statement of compliance shall be valid for the Calendar year in which statement of compliance is issued and for the first 5 months of the following Calendar year (until 31 May).

Reference:

http://www.imo.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/Marine-Environment-Protection-Committee-(MEPC)/Documents/MEPC.278(70).pdf

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.

International Register of Shipping is a recognized Organization approved for the issuance of the Class Certificate by Panama Maritime Authority. Users of the Panamanian Registry can contact hashtag#INTLREG at services@intlreg.org for any requirements related to the Class Certificate in accordance with the provisions of the International Conventions ratified by the Republic of Panama.

The spread of the COVID-19 virus is causing significant issues in the shipbuilding industry, but English law has no general concept of force majeure, and this is a key factor in the relationship between shipyards and shipowners.

Shipyards are facing disruption to new building, repair and conversion projects due to the impact of the virus on their labour force and the ability of their subcontractors to meet their commitments to supply materials and equipment necessary for the completion of such projects.

As a result, shipyards in China, and elsewhere, have sought to invoke the force majeure provisions under their contracts with shipowners because of COVID-19 in order to obtain ‘no fault’ extensions of the delivery dates under these contracts.

This in turn has caused issues for shipowners who are now facing potential delays to the delivery of the vessels that they have contracted to buy, repair or convert, especially where those vessels are for delivery into a specific project or long term charter or the conversion works are linked to compliance with the 2020 low sulphur fuel cap.

Because most contracts are subject to English law, shipbuilding contracts must have an actual force majeure clause for the shipyard to claim force majeure and the burden of proof is on the shipyard.

On BIMCO’s website, members can read the full article that looks at force majeure provisions in standard form shipbuilding contracts and how these might operate in the context of COVID-19.

International Register of Shipping (INTLREG) to be the First RO to sign re-validation of the existing approval as per new regulations from the Marina, The Maritime Industry Authority -Philippines.

International Register of Shipping (INTLREG ) and The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) governing the delegation of statutory certification and services for ships registered in the Philippines on 14 October 2019 at the MARINA Central Office.

MARINA Vice Admiral Narciso A Vingson Jr commended the IRS for accepting the duties and responsibilities as Recognized Organization to perform statutory certification and services to Philippine shipping companies and their Philippine-registered ships, pursuant to the Recognized Organization Code and the MARINA Circular No. 2018 – 01.

INTLREG is expanding surveyor network at Philippines with authorization for domestic as well as International vessels with the approval of MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority).

Our Services include: –

1. Classification & Statutory Surveys –
2. ISM Internal & External Audits –
3. New Build Services

INTLREG is fully approved for classification and statutory certification by the MARINA for vessels flying the Philippines flag with an exclusive survey station based in Manila.

To request classification or statutory certification services or to coordinate a survey or ISM Audits or New Build Services  please contact : services@intlreg.org