Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) informs all DPA, Owners/Operators of Panamanian flagged vessels that the LRIT conformance test is required in the following cases:

• All new installations
• In cases of changes of flag
• In cases of change of owner
• After one year from the initial/latest conformance test performed upon the registration of the vessel under the Panama Flag.

To comply with this annual conformance test, vessels already in Panamanian fleet shall follow the following timetable:

1. Vessels having the conformance test completed prior to December 2018, should complete the test before the end of September 2023.
2. Vessels having the conformance test completed between January 1st 2019 and December 31st, 2021 should complete the test before the end of November 2023
3. Vessels having the conformance test completed after January 1st, 2022, should complete the test before December 31st, 2023.

It is important to mention that vessels whose proof of Conformance Test is less than one year old, must carry out the Conformance Test when the existing Conformance Test Report is one year old.

Vessels that have successfully completed a Conformance Test before July 1st, 2023, and request their first annual Conformance Test Report between July 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, will be allowed to obtain an updated annual Conformance Test Report supported by their existing Conformance Test, provided that Conformance Test is still valid, as per MSC.1/Circ.1307, and the vessel has transmitted LRIT information to the National Data Center (conformance-test-panama@polestarglobal.com) as expected at least 82% of the time during a period of up to twelve months prior to the date when the updated Conformance Test Report is requested.

Please be advised that:

• Starting July 1st, 2023, all Conformance Test Reports issued on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Panama will be issued as electronic documents in digitally signed PDF format.
• Changes to ship particulars (Ship Name, Maritime Mobile Service Identity, Distinctive Number or Letters, Gross Tonnage, or Ship Areas where the ship is certified to operate) will not require a new Conformance Test but will require obtaining an amended Conformance Test Report.
• An amended Conformance Test Report does not extend its validity period.
• No Conformance Test Reports will be issued on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Panama for Conformance Tests completed more than a year before.
• The Panama Maritime Authority will no longer accept Conformance Tests completed while the vessel was in a different flag prior to joining the Panama Registry.

For detailed information on how to request a Conformance Test and/or a Conformance Test Report, please refer to: https://www.polestarglobal.com/software-solutions/lrit-conformance

All Panamanian registered vessels that deliberately deactivate the Long Range Identification and Tracking Equipment (LRIT) or the Automatic Identification System (AIS) may be subject to be sanctioned.

This sanction shall also apply to all those vessels that have been detained or restricted within the jurisdictional waters of the Republic of Panama, and without authorization from the Directorate General of Merchant Marine, change position or perform any commercial activity, and/or deactivate, manipulate, or alter the Long-Range Identification and Tracking System (LRIT) or the Automatic Identification System (AIS).

It is mandatory, that the Long-Range Identification and Tracking Equipment (LRIT) or the Automatic Identification System (AIS) maintain a permanent and adequate operation, avoiding by all possible means that they stop transmitting information on the identity and position of the vessel.

By Resolution J.D. No. 063-2022 dated November 17, 2022, the sanctions established for these actions, could carry from $10,000.00 up to $100,000.00 U.S. Dollars and/or deregistration of the vessel from Panamanian Merchant Marine Fleet.

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