For a vessel fitted with GMDSS, the following would be the requirements for radio qualified personnel:

1. GMDSS Radio Operator - Restricted
2. GMDSS Radio Operator - General
3. GMDSS Radio Electronic - First Class
4. GMDSS Radio Electronic - Second Class

If the ship adopts at sea electronic maintenance, then the certificate required by that crewmember would be either 3. or 4. above.

The person designated for maintenance may also be designated as the "Radio Officer" and do radio operator's duties as well. If this is so, then only one of the deck watchstanding officers must have certificates of either 1. or 2. above. If the radio maintenance person is not designated as the radio officer of the vessel, then at least two deck watchstanding officers are to have certificates of either 1. or 2. above.

If a watchstanding deck officer is to operate the GMDSS equipment then he must have any one of the above certificates, whether or not the ship carries an exclusive radio officer.

In a case where there is no exclusive radio officer on board, at least two (2) deck watchstanding officers are to have certificates of either 1. or 2. above.

Panama has validated the certificates of competency of forty three (43) countries, and, hence, any person serving on Panamanian registered vessels having one of the certificates denoted above from any of these forty three (43) countries, can apply for the Panamanian corresponding equivalent certificate.

December 1994

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.