Panama Maritime Authority Main Headquarters
Diablo Heights, Demetrio Porras Street
Telephone: (+507) 501-5222 / 5385
www.amp.gob.pa

PANAMA MAKES PROGRESS IN THE PROCESS OF RECOGNITION OF THE
COMPETENCE CERTIFICATES OF PANAMANIAN SEAFARERS BEFORE THE
EUROPEAN UNION.
“Currently, 90% of the evidence of the actions carried out has been completed according to the results of the audit reportcarried out by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), for which the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) is preparing
the second group of evidence for the respective delivery to the General Directorate of Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) ofthe European Commission (E.U.)," said the Director of the General Directorate of Seafarers (DGGM), Captain Juan Maltez
during the delivery to the European High Commissioner for Transport, Adina Valean, of a summary with the progress made byPanama for its recognition as a third country before the European Union, which would mark a milestone in the Panamanianmaritime history.
Panama makes progress in the process of its recognition, which is being verified before the European Commission, referring tothe recognition of the titles of competence of Panamanian seafarers by the Member States of the European Union, inaccordance with Rule I /10 of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for
Seafarers 1978, as amended (Convention STCW'78, as amended) and Directive 2008/106/CE.
A favorable result after the verification process and the subsequent recognition by the EU will be a great boost for Panamanianseafarers since they will be allowed to work on board European-flagged ships, in this way we will be able to export our humanresources of quality, complying with high standards, guaranteeing safety at sea, their labor rights and the obligations that eachposition demands, in accordance with the regulations of international agreements.
These efforts made by the AMP demonstrate the commitment of the current administration to comply with the STCW'78
Convention, as amended, and to promote job opportunities for our seafarers, thus demonstrating that Panama is focused onproviding the maritime international industry with cadets and officers with high-level professional training, competitive and at
the forefront of technological demands, which guarantee safe and reliable maritime transport.
The detailed note with the progress made by Panama was delivered to High Commissioner Valean, during the Cyprus
Maritime Award and Cyprus Maritime Week, events that were attended by more than 900 maritime transport professionals
from 35 countries, where the Panamanian delegation met with government officials and important shipping companies of theRepublic of Cyprus, with the purpose of strengthening ties of friendship and camaraderie.
In addition, the excellent bilateral relations that exist between both countries were reaffirmed, including the support of Cyprus
for the recognition of Panama as a third country, before the European Union, as a requirement of Rule I/10 of the International
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978 (STCW'78, as amended). They also
agreed to work together to effectively address global challenges that concern the maritime and shipping industries.
Promoting the mechanisms that facilitate the promotion of Panamanian seafarers has been one of the priorities of the AMP andthrough the DGGM, it has contributed to shipowners from all over the world becoming interested in hiring Panamanian labor,
with this objective, they met with representatives of OSM Maritime Group, a leading company in ship management andmaritime service providers, who expressed interest in signing a future Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AMP ontraining, education, internship activities and creation of job opportunities for Panamanian seafarers, and the possibility ofvisiting Panamanian Maritime Universities and Maritime Training Centers (CFM) was raised, to learn about the profile of theeducation provided.
On the other hand, the Panamanian delegation attended a follow-up meeting, after signing the Memorandum of Understanding,with the General Director of the Group and CEO of MSC Shipmanagement Ltd Cyprus (a subsidiary of Mediterranean
Shipping Company (MSC)), Captain Prabhat Jha, who pointed out that next November, the interview process will begin for theselection of Panamanian seafarers, who wish to embark on their ships.
In the same way, the representatives of Panama met with the delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to discuss issues
related to the progress of the future signing of the Agreement, between the Panama Maritime Authority and the Ministry ofTransport and Logistics Services of Saudi Arabia, concerning the mutual recognition of training and certification in accordancewith Rule I/10 of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978,Amended, (Convention STCW'78), which would be of great benefit to Panamanian seafarers as it would provide them withnew job opportunities.

PANAMÁ AVANZA EN EL PROCESO DE RECONOCIMIENTO DE LOSTÍTULOS DE COMPETENCIA DE LA GENTE DE MAR PANAMEÑA ANTELA UNIÓN EUROPEA