Panama Maritime Administration considers it appropriate to inform that the port States have issued guidelines to deal with the current situation of the Ukrainian seafarers, which should be taken into account by the shipowners and operators regarding of the extensions seafarers' employment agreements (SEA) of seafarers who wish to remain on board and in the cases of seafarers who are willing to return home at the end of their employment contract, for which the shipowners must provide tickets to friendly neighboring countries in the region with enough money for land transport where flights are not available.

In case the maximum duration of the seafarers' employment contract (SEA) has expired and an authorization is required for the extension by the flag State, a request must be sent to the email seaextension@amp.gob.pa. This will only be authorized on a case-by-case basis to address the emergency situation that does not allow seafarers to return home and only with the consent of the seafarer.

The Maritime Administration reiterates that any extension granted would require an addendum to the seafarer employment agreement on the same terms and conditions as the underlying contract and must be agreed to by both parties.

For the extension of endorsements of certificates for Ukrainian seafarers, the requirements set forth in paragraph 6.2 of the Merchant Marine Notice MMN-03/2020 “Coronavirus and Seafarers employment agreement and Certificates”.

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