The Panama Maritime Authority has officially removed numerous ships under international sanctions from its flag register.
The deregistration process is still ongoing for other ships. The number of ships removed from the register currently stands at 107, with a further 18 still to be deregistered.
According to the Panama Maritime Authority (Autoridad Marítima De Panamá, AMP), this measure is being taken in accordance with Executive Decree No. 512, which authorizes the authority to unilaterally cancel the registration of ships, individuals and shipowners that are on international sanctions lists.
“This measure ensures that no vessel or owner associated with illegal activities operates under the Panamanian flag,” the MPA announced. “At the same time, the registration of ship mortgages and the legal rights of the parties involved are safeguarded.”
Panama responds to sanctions against shadow fleet
There are compliance concerns about the ships involved, many of which were on sanctions lists of the European Union, the United Kingdom and the USA. At the same time, the MPA has once again tightened up the analysis of ships prior to registration in order to prevent “risk ships” from sailing under the Panamanian flag. Not only technical criteria are taken into account, but also information about the ship owner and operator.
The number of sanctioned ships at the end of last year was more than 1,000. Many belong to the so-called “shadow fleet” – old, poorly insured or uninsured ships that are used by Russia to export oil and thus circumvent Western sanctions imposed as a result of the war of aggression against Ukraine.
