Bid to flag up better image for Panama
AN IMPORTANT initiative to back the drive for improvements in
the activities and image of the Panamanian register has been
taken by lawyers who work from the territory.
The Panamanian Maritime Law Association hosted a working
lunch in Panama City for its members to meet the highest-ranking
officers of the register headed by its administrator, Jerry
Salazar.
The profession is keen to see that the relevant government
officials strengthen their commitment to improve services
provided to owners with ships registered under the flag.
It was the first of monthly gatherings the association plans
hold to ensure that the huge register and its users work
harmoniously and that any problems that arise can be solved
immediately.
José Raul Mulino, partner in Fabrega Barsallo Molino &
Mulino and former minister of foreign affairs, welcomed the
meeting as a positive step.
"It is about time the Panamanian authorities started the
necessary proceedings in co-ordination with all the
representatives of the Panamanian maritime private sector to
redefine and promote our merchant marine," he says.
With the world's largest register under increasing pressure
from rival flags of convenience, Mr Mulino says changes needed
to be "based on a programme to modernise its structure,
administration and competitiveness, taking into account the
efforts that competitors of Panama are making to promote other
registries".
The outcome of the first meeting was a pledge to maintain the
Panamanian register according to today's exacting world
requirements. Further meetings will address new developments.
It is a crucial time for all registers, with the Panamanian
government having taken a lead in legislating a package of tax
incentives to attract ships.
Association president Juan Felipe Pitty underlined the
gravity of the situation by remarking that Panama faced fierce
competition from other open and national registries that would
like a share of the fleet that Panama has developed over the
years.
Segumar, the New York office in charge of safety issues, has
had a lower profile in the past two or three years as some of
its operations have been transferred to Panama City, so that
more control can be exercised over its operations. However, the
Panamanian administration has again been revising Segumar's
modus operandi to give shipowners other offices to contact
around the world.
As a first measure Mr Salazar said that Mr Arosemena, a
technical engineer, had been appointed to join the staff. His
involvement in the New York office would be mainly to look after
the large mobile offshore drilling fleet forming part of the
Panamanian merchant marine.
Mr Salazar said that as an example of his office's pledge to
offer a service to satisfy the requirements of flag users, two
members of the New York Segumar office were now on call 24 hours
a day, 365 days a year, to assist in casualties and any other
emergencies or events requiring attention.
Many people have been yearning for a person with the
qualities of the late Capt Al Fiore, who died in early 1998, to
play a leading role in boosting the register's relationship with
its customers.
Mr Pitty recalled that Capt Fiore was a pivotal officer in
Segumar as well as a pillar of the register. Both the register
and its users would benefit if someone with such qualifications
and vision could be employed in the New York office.
Mr Salazar gave a personal guarantee that the efficiency and
complete turnround of the Segumar office in New York was a
priority.
The administrator added that by the end of August a new head
of the shipping department at the Panama office of the registry
would be appointed.
The person chosen would work to the orders of Marixenia de
Barrios, director general of the Merchant Marine Office.
Mr Salazar was frank in admitting that the open registry -
created in Panama in the early 1920s - was subject to numerous
criticisms from different economic blocs around the world and
that more stringent safety and security measures for the vessels
and their crews were being demanded. The administration must
observe those requirements and ensure compliance, he added.
On concern that arose last year over the illegal issue of
seafarer certificates, Mr Salazar told the lawyers that the FBI
had questioned a person who was co-operating with the
investigation.
Mr Salazar confirmed that the documents were issued in Panama
and that the suspects involved would be found and named shortly.
Panama has more than 285,000 ratings and officers working on
its ships and a backlog in certificates is being blamed partly
on delays at other registries, whose co-operation is needed to
process the corresponding applications for certification by
Panama.
During June the Panama office dispatched 25,000 licences to
Manila.
Meanwhile, Mr Salazar referred to complaints in recent months
from users over fines imposed for vessel deficiencies found on
annual safety inspections.
He said that since last September the requirements on
administrations were harder and it was important to obtain
co-operation of the users to comply with all the new rules that
had been introduced.
In respect of the detention of ships, Mr Salazar said talks
were going on with the US Coast Guard to create a bilateral
channel of communication so that the administration could be
informed immediately if any Panamanian ship was to be detained.
That would allow swift contact with the owner and his lawyers
so faults could be rectified and a vessel allowed to sail
without delay.
Those taking part in the Panama City meeting were informed
that the register was studying through its database all reports
received on ship deficiencies and non-conformities to determine
which were repetitive.
In all the discussions between the legal experts and the
authorities appeared to go well.
José Manuel Jaen, of law firm Patton, Moreno & Asvat,
says: "Top-level executives of the Panama Maritime
Authority and the Directorate General of Merchant Marine were
present at this meeting, reinforcing their strong commitment and
interest towards the shipping industry."
In particular, Mr Jaen praised the efforts of the flag's
administrator. He says Mr Salazar "has maintained direct
communication channels with the private sector, with users of
the flag as well as with members of the Panamanian Maritime Law
Association and the Maritime Chamber of Panama, and has thus
been proactive in finding solutions for problems affecting the
maritime industry in Panama".
Mr Salazar says he was encouraged by the resolve of the
Panamanian lawyers to strengthen the good working relationship
with the users and his administration, and he paid tribute to
the importance of the lawyers in everyday maritime work and
their goodwill towards the Panamanian merchant marine.
© 2002 Maria Dixon - ISM Shipping Solutions Ltd.
Published in Loyds List, with permission from
the Author
