The Panamanian Maritime Authority (PMA) has removed 107 ships from its register because they have violated international sanctions. A further 18 ships are in the process of being removed from the register. The current step is part of Panama's consistent action against the circumvention of rules and sanctions.

In particular, following the implementation of an executive decree issued last October, the PMA was authorised to immediately cancel ship registrations if ships or their owners appear on international sanctions lists. This measure ensures that no ship or shipowner associated with illegal activities can sail under the Panamanian flag, according to the authority.

Panama has taken several important initiatives to strengthen the PMA. The new registration process represents a significant improvement on the previous procedures, which took around three months. In September 2024, the authority introduced the "Panama Flag Precheck Process" to improve due diligence for new registrations. The country has also joined the Registry Information Sharing Compact (RISC). This is intended to prevent ships from "registry hopping" in order to avoid sanctions.

With a view to the future, national legislation will be reviewed for weaknesses. The aim is to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and ensure compliance with international conventions. And improved pre-registration analysis includes both technical criteria and thorough assessments of the background of ship owners and operators. In addition, the PMA has introduced risk assessments to recognise possible links to previous illegal activities with the help of data technology support.

Panama has the largest ship registry in the world in terms of numbers, with more than 8,700 ships, accounting for around 15 % of the world merchant fleet's tonnage. The latest measures are aimed specifically at ships associated with illegal activities and the sanctions against Russia. By enforcing these measures, Panama is demonstrating its commitment to transparency and security and reaffirming the fight against the misuse of its flag, according to the PMA.

Panama has been endeavouring for some time to get rid of its image as a "flag of convenience" state without functioning control mechanisms; marineforum.online/ already reported on such cancellations from the flag register in December 2024.

kdk, gCaptain