F-33

(DCCM)
V.04

Panama Maritime Authority

General Directorate of Merchant Marine
Control and Compliance Department

MERCHANT MARINE CIRCULAR MMC-123

To: Master, Ship-owners, Operators, Company Security Officers, Ship Security

Officer, Legal Representatives of Panamanian Flagged Vessels,
Recognized Security Organizations (RSO) of Panama Flagged Vessel.

Subject: International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code).

Reference: Law No. 38 June 4, 1995 UNCLOS 1982.

Resolution ADM No. 140-2003 of May 15, 2003.
MMC-125 - SHIP SECURITY PLAN (SSP).
MMC-126 - Ship Security Officers.
MMC-124 - Ship Security Assessment (SSA).
MMC-359 - Guidance for the implementation and certification of the ISPS
Code.

1. The purpose of this Merchant Marine Circular is to provide information and guidance to
the owners, operators and master of Panamanian flagged ships concerning the
Administration’s requirements for compliance with the International Ship & Port Facility
Security Code (ISPS Code).

2. The International Ship and Port Security Code (ISPS Code) was adopted on December
12, 2002 at a Diplomatic Conference held at the International Maritime Organization
(IMO). During this Conference, amendments to SOLAS 74 were also adopted. The
ISPS Code and SOLAS amendments are a compilation of international maritime
security measures that have a significant impact on the operation of a ship owning
companies, ships, their operators, and the port facilities they call on.

3. The Regulation 4 of Chapter XI-2 made the ISPS Code mandatory for ships affected as
of July 1, 2004. The Code is made up of two (2) parts. Part A is the mandatory
portion of the Code, and Part B is the portion that is recommendatory in nature. Part B
was created to provide guidance and information concerning how to implement Part A.
4. DEFINITIONS:

4.1. ISPS Code: International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) it is
consisting of Part A and Part B as adopted by IMO.
4.2. Contracting Government: A Government signatory to SOLAS but used
more specifically to mean Port State (country) receiving a ship at a port
facility.
4.3. Company: The owner of the ship or any other organization or person such
as the manager, or the bareboat Charterer, who has assumed the
responsibility for the operation of the ship from the ship owner and who
assuming such responsibility, has agreed to do so in writing.
4.4. Company Security Officer (CSO): The person ashore designated by the
Company to develop and revise the Ship Security Plan (SSP) and for
liaison with the Ship Security Officer (SSO), Port Facility Security Officer
(PFSO) and the Flag Administration.
4.5. Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO): The person at the Port Facility
designated by the facility to be responsible for implementation of measures
required by the ISPS Code.
4.6. Port Facility Security Plan (PFSP): A plan developed to ensure the
application of measures designed to protect the port facility and ships,
persons, cargo, cargo transport units and ship’s stores within the port
facility from the risks of a security incident.
4.7. Security Incident: Any suspicious act or circumstance threatening the
security of a ship, including pirates attack or armed robbery against ships.
4.8. Security Level: The qualification of the degree of risk that a security
incident will be attempted or will occur.
4.9. Security Level 1: The level for which minimum appropriate protective and
preventive security measures shall be maintained at all times.
4.10. Security Level 2: The level for which appropriate additional protective and
preventive measures shall be maintained for a period of time as a result of
heightened risk of a security incident.
4.11. Security Level 3: The level in which further specific protective and
preventive measures shall be maintained for a period of time when a
security incident is probable or imminent, although it may not be possible to
identify the specific target.
4.12. Ship Security Assessment (SSA): The identification of the possible
threats to key shipboard operations, existing security measures and
weaknesses in the infrastructure, policies and procedures.
 4.13. Ship Security Plan (SSP): A plan developed to ensure the application of
measures onboard the ship designed to protect persons onboard, the
cargo, cargo transport units, ship’s store or the ship from the risks of a
security incident.
4.14. Ship Security Officer (SSO): The person on board the ship accountable to
the master, designated by the Company as responsible for the security of
the ship, including implementation and maintenance of the SSP and for
liaison with the Company Security Officer (CSO) and the Port Facility
Security Officer (PFSO).
4.15. Verification: The audit of the SSP and its implementation on a ship and
associated procedures, checking the operational status of the SSAS and a
representative sample of associated security and surveillance equipment
and systems mentioned in the SSP.
4.16. Recognized Security Organization (RSO): An organization with
appropriate expertise in security matters and with appropriate knowledge of
ship and port operations authorized to carry out an assessment, or
verification, or an approval or a certification activity, required by SOLAS
chapter XI-2 or by part A of the ISPS Code.

5. OBJECTIVES:

5.1. To establish an international framework involving co-operation between

Contracting Governments, Government agencies, local administrations and
the shipping and port industries to detect security threats and take
preventive measures against security threats or incidents affecting ships or
port facilities used in international trade;
5.2. To establish the respective roles and responsibilities of the Contracting
Governments, agencies, local administrations and the shipping and port
industries at the national and international level for ensuring maritime
security;
5.3. To ensure the early and efficient collection and exchange of security related
information;
5.4. To provide a methodology for security assessments so as to have in place
plans and procedures to react to changing security levels and situations;
5.5. To ensure confidence that adequate and proportionate maritime security
measures are in place.
6. In order to achieve its objectives, the ISPS Code embodies a number of functional
requirements. These include, but are not limited to:

6.1. Gathering and assessing information with respect to security threats and
exchanging such information with appropriate Contracting Governments or
authorities;
6.2. Requiring the maintenance of communications protocols for ships and port
facilities;
6.3. Preventing unauthorized access to ships, port facilities and their restricted
areas;
6.4. Preventing the introduction of unauthorized weapons, incendiary devices or
explosives to ships or port facilities;
6.5. Providing means for raising the alarm in reaction to security threats or
security incidents.
6.6. Requiring ship and port facility security plans based upon security
assessments;
6.7. Requiring training, drill and exercise to ensure familiarity with security plans
and procedures.

7. MANDATORY COMPLIANCE:

7.1. This regulation made the ISPS Code mandatory for ships affected as of
July 1, 2004. The Code is made up of two (2) parts. Part A is the
mandatory portion of the Code, and Part B is the portion that is
recommendatory in nature.
7.2. Part B was crafted to provide guidance and information concerning how to
implement Part A. It was designed this way to take into account the need to
continue to expand and develop guidance on a periodic basis without the
need to go through time consuming convention amendment procedures.

8. APPLICATION OF THE ISPS CODE:

8.1. The ISPS Code applies to all Panamanian flagged ships engaged on
international voyages:

a) Passenger ships, including high-speed passenger craft.

b) Cargo ships, including high-speed craft, of 500 gross tonnages and
upwards.
 c) Self-propelled mobile offshore drilling units capable of making
international voyages unassisted and unescorted when underway
and not on location.
d) Port facilities serving such ships engaged on international voyages.

9. The ISPS Code does not apply to:

a) Warships, naval auxiliaries or others ships Government non-

commercial service.
b) Cargo ships, including commercial yachts of less than 500 gross
tonnages.
c) Ships not propelled by mechanical means.
d) Private pleasure yachts not engaged in trade
e) Fishing Vessels
f) Non-Self-propelled mobile offshore drilling units

10. For those Panamanian flagged vessels operating in national waters of the Republic of
Panama and if they want to apply voluntarily for the ISPS Code they must comply with
the requirements of chapter XI-2 or part A of this Code and will be subject to the ISPS
verifications specified in section Part A/19.1.1.

11. For those vessels which are currently operating in the Republic of Panama and have
applied voluntarily for the ISPS Code and that for some reason do not wish to continue
with the implementation of the ISPS Code, they must notify directly to the
Administration at the following email: [email protected] and this Administration will
proceed to cancel the International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC).

12. Starting from the November 1st, 2019, the SSAS exemption must be requested
through the following website link http://certificates.amp.gob.pa/certificates, and the
following documents will be submitted:

a) RSO statement with the alternative security measures on board.

b) A formal statement by the Coastal State about vessel operational area.
c) Interim ISCC
d) Payment Receipt.

13. The SSAS exemption will only be issue by the head office. According Resolution J.D.
No. 038-2014 of November 12, 2014, the cost for SSAS Exemption is US$300.00 (no
handling fee is applicable) and we recommend using Google Chrome, Opera, Mozilla
Firefox, Safari and Microsoft Edge.
14. The interim SSAS exemption certificate will be valid for the period of validity of the
interim ISSC issued by the Recognized Security Organization (RSO). However, once
the ISPS verification audit has been carried out according to the ISPS
Code/Reg.19.1.1 and this Administration has been already issued the International
Ship Security Certificate (FULL TERM ISSC); the operating company should request
the permanent SSAS exemption certificate that will be valid for the period of validity of
the Full Term ISSC without any cost.

15. All the Panamanian flagged vessels engaged in international voyages in which the
ISPS Code applies or have applied voluntarily must have on board a Continuous
Synopsis Record (CSR) and International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC) according to
the Merchant Marine Circulars MMC-183 and MMC-359.

16. For those Panamanian flag vessels operating in international jurisdictional waters or
international coastal voyage they must follow the national regulations of the country
where it is operating, in order to comply with the ISPS Code.

17. The ISPS Code related a new type of organization for the purpose of providing
verification and certification with respect to the Code. These new organizations are
called Recognized Security Organizations (RO’s), and specific experience and
qualification requirements must be met prior to approval by this Administration.

18. According to the Section 8 of Part A of the ISPS Code, it requires the Company
Security Officer (CSO) to ensure that, for each ship for which he has security
responsibilities, a Security Assessment is carried out by persons with appropriate skill
to evaluate the security of a ship, in accordance with ISPS Code and the Merchant
Marine Circular MMC-124.

19. All the Panamanian flagged vessel Companies shall develop, implement and maintain
a functional SSP aboard its ships in compliance with SOLAS Chapter XI-2, the ISPS
Code and the Merchant Marine Circular MMC-125.

20. The SSP is developed from the information compiled in the SSA. It ensures application
of measures onboard the ship designed to protect persons on board, the cargo, cargo
transport units, ship’s stores or the ship from all manner of risk security violations. The
SSP shall be protected from unauthorized disclosure.

21. For Single Voyage Authorization must be requested through the online platform
E-Segumar at the following website http://certificates.amp.gob.pa/certificates and it will
be evaluated and processed by the Maritime Ships Security Department in Panama or
by any international Segumar offices that the client decides.
 21.1. The following documents will be submitted through the online platform
E-Segumar:

a) RSO statement indicating the departure and arrival port.

22. This Administration encourage all the companies operators, Company Security Officers
and Recognized Security Organization which for further assistance and/or inquiries
regarding of this ISPS instructions, must to contact the Maritime Ships Security
Department, at the following email: [email protected] or through any Segumar Offices.

23. The instructions regarding the Company Security Officer (CSO) and Ship Security Alert
System (SSAS) must be fulfilled as of the publication of this Merchant Marine Circular.

24. The failure to comply with this Merchant Marine Circular will be communicated to the
RSO section in order to be considered a mal practice by the RSO.

For further assistance, please note below the contact points.

October, 2022 – Modification of paragraph 13.

June, 2022 – Modification in the subject.
May, 2022 – Modification of paragraph 11 and 12.
December, 2020 – New paragraph 12 and Change of PMA telephone numbers.
October, 2019 – Modification of paragraph 10.
October, 2019– Inclusion of a paragraph in point 10 and inclusion of paragraph 16.
September, 2019 – Modification on paragraph 10.
June, 2019 – Modification paragraph 8 to 12
November, 2017 – New Point 3.16, 5 and 6.1
September 2016 – Change of paragraph 8
January, 2016 – Change of paragraph 8
July, 2013 – New Point 6 and 7
June, 2013 - Changes all throughout the text
September, 2003.
Inquiries concerning the subject of this Merchant Marine Circular or any other request
should be forward to:

Maritime Ships Security Department

Directorate General of Merchant Marine
Panama Maritime Authority

Phone: (507) 501-5085 / 5086

E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://panamashipregistry.com/circulars/