SHIP REGISTRY


required from each vessel. The implementation of FAL-65 is to simplify documents and controls, thereby avoiding public authorities coming to port requiring the same information. The procedures facilitate the movement of ships and may reduce the stay of ships in port by several hours or by days. The IMO held a Latin-American Regional Seminar for the maritime Administrations and the maritime training centres, in April 2011, for familiarisation with the adoption of the Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention and Code. The seminar was attended by 20 countries from the region. The Manila Amendments were adopted in June 2010 during an IMO Diplomatic Conference, agreeing by consensus, a series of new provisions which will apply from 1 January 2012.


The most important new provisions are to improve measures to prevent fraudulent practices associated with certificates of competency and strengthen the evaluation process (monitoring of Parties' compliance with the Convention); labour requirements; new requirements relating to training in modern technology such as electronic charts display and information systems (ECDIS); new requirements for marine environment awareness training and training in leadership and teamwork; and new training for different type of vessels amongst others.


In July 2011, Panama joined Globallast as Lead Partnering Country proving its commitment to the marine


A


bsolute Maritime Tracking Systems (AMTS) is one of the world's leading LRIT operator with over 8,000 vessels under management. Additionally, AMTS is a major service provider with systems designed to improve maritime security, anti-piracy countermeasures and environmental protection with VMS systems. The company has a truly global footprint with customers in more than 90 countries around the world, agents in most major shipping centres, and around the clock service to its customers through its monitoring center located in the City of Knowledge, Fort Clayton, manned 24 hours and 365 days. AMTS is a joint venture enterprise between Absolute Software Inc. (www.absolutesw.com) and PSC Holdings Group (www.panama-psa.com) with offices in Panama, Boston, Brisbane, and Bangkok. Headquartered in Panama, AMTS employs a diverse, talented and innovative workforce whose passion for excellence has enabled the company to


PANAMA MARITIME REVIEW 2011/12


The AMP has installed a new electronic Ship


Register to ease vessel registry procedures, as well as issuance of a new digital seafarer identity document.


pollution prevention.


With this action Panama recognises the project to be a timely and much needed initiative to assist the countries in preparing for the implementation of the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention, 2004 and also emphasises the support given to the GEF-UNDP-IMO GloBallast Partnership Project, currently being implemented by IMO, as a Lead Partnering Country (LPC). The country is committed to the global efforts in managing the issue of harmful organisms and pathogens transferred by ship’s ballast water (BWS) and sediments. The AMP is fully aware that the LPCs are expected to take a fast track approach to reach the milestones of the project, namely, undertaking a national BW status assessment, developing a national strategy and drafting national legislation, all of which would assist with


become one of the leading maritime Security Service Providers in the world.


the process of ratification. Also the Administration is aware that project would provide some resources and technical guidance to facilitate the national process. Panama would be committed to give the ‘in-kind’ support necessary to undertake these national level activities.


Panama is also a member of the Permanent Commission for the South Pacific (CPPS) and thus provides a beneficial link between the Caribbean and South East Pacific Regions. Today, around 13 countries, from six high priority regions, are part of this programme. One of its main objectives will be to assist the participating countries to put in place the necessary legal, policy and institutional frameworks to deal with the ratification process and implementation of the Convention. Panama has been actively involved in the regional level discussions on this issue, hosted one of the regional activities within the project (although not a Lead Partnering Country at the time). The AMP has installed a new electronic Ship Register to ease vessel registry procedures, as well as issuance of a new digital seafarer identity document issued by the Directorate of Seafarers. The new system will save 80% of AMP clients’ time by accessing AMP’s data centre, to be interconnected worldwide via the Internet. Authorised users of the Registry, consuls and lawyers bearing public key infrastructure (PKI) with their respective user identities, are granted further access


AMTS provides free tracking for Panama ship owners John Ramsauer of AMTS


AMTS is organised in two business units: the first based in Panama, where all the day-to-day maritime safety, security and fleet management operations are administered by a seasoned team of competent professionals. The second being the Research and Development operations in Cambridge, Massachusetts, arguably one of the prime high technology, and sciences clusters in the world.


The company offers a wide range of software maritime solutions such as the recently introduced Fleet Information System (first in its class) that allows ship owners to access real time fleet management, reporting and tracking data through a single web application. The Panama Maritime Authority has authorised AMTS to offer owners of Panama-flagged vessels, free tracking of their fleets through FIS. Some renowned ship owners and managers are already benefitting from the real time tracking services that AMTS provides.


AMTS’s VMS system allows


environmental and fisheries regulatory organisations to monitor the position, course and speed of fishing vessels in real time as well as providing geo-space analysis of historic data. These are capabilities that are key to the monitoring control and surveillance programmes at national and international levels.


39


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112