The Panama Maritime Authority is taking more decisive action against ships in the Russian shadow fleet.
In future, tankers sailing under the country’s flag will be subject to stricter requirements for ship-to-ship operations.
The AMP (Autoridad Marítima De Panamá) regulation stipulates that all ships flying the Panamanian flag and with a gross tonnage of 150 or more must inform the state at least 48 hours in advance of STS operations, for example when transferring oil between two ships. As the AMP explained, technical, logistical and operational information must be provided. This includes details of both vessels involved, the coordinates of the transfer, the type and quantity of raw materials, the preferred method (underway or at anchor) and confirmation of the plan in accordance with Law 41 of the MARPOL Convention.
With this decision, Panama is addressing two important problems in shipping at the same time. On the one hand, it restricts the operations of the Russian shadow fleet, which often operates under the Panamanian flag and enables Russian oil exports to bypass Western sanctions. On the other hand, it strengthens the country’s position as a responsible flag state.
Shadow fleet circumvents international sanctions
“This initiative addresses the increasing use of opaque vessels to circumvent international sanctions, transport undeclared crude oil or circumvent environmental regulations – practices commonly associated with the so-called shadow fleet,” explained Rina Berrocal, Deputy Director General of the Merchant Navy. “It’s not just about protecting the reputation of the Panamanian Registry, but also ensuring that our ships are not used as a platform for illegal activities that undermine global trade and harm the environment.”
Despite numerous international efforts, the Russian shadow fleet is still active with hundreds of ships. Despite sanctions, oil is still being exported from Russia. The EU only recently added more ships to the sanctions list – a total of 342 ships are currently listed.
