The Japanese market accounts for more than 85.8M gt and is the largest tonnage of the Panama Ship Registry. Panama maintains 2 diplomatic offices in Japan that attend to Merchant Marine, Public Registry and Seafarers' issues, as well as 2 technical offices that support the local clients’ operations.

 

Last April, a delegation headed by the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Administrator of the Maritime Authority, Noriel Arauz, the Director General of Merchant Marine, Rafael Cigarruista and the Director General of Seafarers, Juan Maltez visited Tokyo to meet with multiple companies and participate in Sea Japan, accompanied by the Ambassador of Panama in Tokyo, Carlos Peré.

 

The Panamanian delegation met with the Japanese Shipowners Association and its President Ikeda, where the Registry presented information on the support given by Panama to its clients in the cases of Wakashio and Ever Given, sending delegations to collaborate with the companies and the States in the process. The delegation explained to the JSA the modernization projects of the Registry and flag compliance in the different Memoranda of Understanding.

 

Panama offered to increase cooperation and exchange of information to address issues related to the decarbonization of the maritime industry, use of new energies and fuels, and accident prevention.

 

The visit was the occasion to sign the Bilateral Cooperation Agreement with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), in the presence of Mr. Ichiro Takahashi Director General of the Maritime Bureau and the Administrator of the AMP Noriel Arauz.

 

This agreement on the mutual recognition of training and certification in accordance with Regulation I/10 of the

 

International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, will expand work options for Panamanian Seafarers aboard Japan-flagged vessels, making this a milestone for Panama’s labor force.

 

On the delegation’s agenda was a meeting with the Secretary of the Tokyo MoU, Kubota Hideo and its Deputy Secretary, Ning Zheng, during which Panama highlighted all the flag’s efforts on issues of international compliance, environmental preservation, and protection of seafarers. The Secretary of the Tokyo MOU highlighted Panama’s achievements as a Port State for increasing the number of inspections carried out, where the country has exceeded expectations by the end of December 2021.

 

During Panama’s visit to ClassNK, the Official Agreement for the Delegation of the Service of Recognition and Issuance of Technical Certificates to the ships registered in the Panamanian Merchant Marine signed between the Maritime Administration of the Republic of Panama and the authorized company NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI, was renewed.

 

The purpose of this agreement is to delegate the authority to carry out inspections, audits, and approvals of plans and to issue Statutory Certifications on behalf of the Republic of Panama to vessels flying the Panamanian flag. Panama, in its role as Flag State, complies with one of its obligations under the Code for the Implementation of IMO Instruments (CODE III), point 18 "Delegation of Authority".

 

The Panamanian authorities made a presentation on technology, compliance and other issues that must be worked on jointly as service providers for more than 2,000 vessels in the Panamanian fleet and they reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate on cyber security issues and the possibility of extending this agreement to issues related to risk assessment.

 

The delegation held various meetings with the Japanese main financial entities and maritime companies, among them: K-Line, NYK, MOL, Tokyo Century Corporation and Orix Corporation. These companies together operate more than 1,800 ships, as well as these financial companies handle more than $25 BN.

 

According to Clarksons Research, 48% of Japanese shipowners' vessels fly the Panama flag, as the most used flag in the country. The Panama Administration highly values its collaboration with shipowners, financial companies, associations and classification companies to provide support and excellent service to the Japanese fleet.