REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Ministry of Finance and Treasury

Office of the Directorate of Merchant Marine Circular No. 21

Consular and Maritime Affairs

 

To: Shipowners, Masters and Shipbuilders

Subject: Minimum Safe Manning Requirements

Reference: 1. SOLAS

2. Resolution 614-308-ALCN, dated December 31, 1982

 

1. Reference is made to Chapter V, Regulation 13 of the Solas Convention, which mandates that each contracting Government undertakes to maintain and, if necessary to adopt measures for the purpose of ensuring that, from the point of view of safety of life at sea, all ships shall be sufficiently and efficiently manned.

2. Resolution 614-308-ALCN dated December 31, 1982 established the minimum safe manning required on board vessels of over 200 GRT (See Annex).

  1. Certificated Survival Craftsmen: Every passenger vessel and every cargo vessel of 500 GRT and above shall carry a sufficient number of Certificated Survival Craftsmen as determined by the Administration. The allocation of the Survival Craftsmen to each survival craft remains within the discretion of the Master.

    2. Prescribed Complement of Lifeboat

    Minumum Number of Certificated Survival Craftsmen

    Less than 41 persons

    2

    From 41 to 61 persons

    3

    From 62 to 85 persons

    4

    Above 85 persons

    5

    The survival craftsmen must hold certificates of proficiency issued under the authority of an accepted Administration. Also, examiners have been designated to examine the efficiency and competence of Lifeboatmen on Panamanian vessels. These examiners follow the U.S. Coast Guard requirements

  2. Radar Observers:

    3. Passenger vessels must have a sufficient number of radar observers.

     

     

  3. The D.G.C.M.A. (N.Y. Office) can increase the required number of officers for any vessel if in its judgement such vessel is not sufficiently manned for her safe navigation. On the other hand, it can permit a lesser number if special circumstances exist to justify the same.

6. In circumstances such as short international voyages, where less than the specified number of officers may be required, the owner/operator of the vessel shall apply for a waiver providing the following information directly and in writing to the Directorate of Consular and Maritime Affairs, New York Office:

  1. The desired number and grade of certificated officers;

  2. The special circumstances of the vessel or its trade that, in his opinion, justify the requested reduced manning.

The waiver will be issued or denied depending on the evaluation of the circumstances.

 

 

 

January 1992

 

 

Inquiries concerning the subject of this Circular should be directed to:

Directorate of Consular and Maritime Affairs, New York Representative Office,
Republic of Panama, 1180 Avenue of the Americas, 23rd floor
New York, New York 10036, U.S.A.