Panamanian-flag ships move towards ISPS compliance

Panamanian-flag ships move towards ISPS compliance    The Panama Maritime Authority, the agency that administers the Panamanian shipping registry, reported Wednesday it has issued full term international ship security certificates to 65 percent of the fleet that has filed its ship security plans. Some 4,677 ship security plans have been filed by ship owners and been approved.
   Eight days before the July 1 deadline of the International Maritime Organization’s International Ship and Port Facility Security code, the Panama Maritime Authority said it has issued some 3,059 five-year international ship security certificates to the vessels that have completed all requirements for the issuance of the certificates.
   “There is only 100 international ship security certificates pending, due to lack of submittals,” the Panamanian agency said.
   The Panama Maritime Authority has extended the working hours of its maritime security department working until 10 p.m. Monday to Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday to process the requests.
   Panama is the world’s largest shipping registry, more than 20 percent of the world shipping tonnage.