Navigation Patent in Panama

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Overview

The navigation license is a document issued by the state administration and authorizes to sail under its flag.

After receiving the complete description of the vessel, and payment of the corresponding annual fees or taxes according to the service and gross and net tonnage of the vessel, the General Directorate of Merchant Marine or the respective Panamanian consulate, issues the Provisional Navigation Patent valid for six (6) months.

The respective deed of Ownership must be duly registered in the Public Registry Office of Title of Vessels of the Republic of Panama within six (6) months following the issuance of the Provisional Navigation License. After the registration, the application for obtaining the Regulatory Navigation Patent, which is valid for 5 years, must be submitted to the Panama Maritime Authority.

The General Directorate of Merchant Marine may reduce the validity of regulatory navigation patents and regulatory radio licenses in view of special circumstances of types of ships, of any particular ship, or the interests of Panama.

Requirements to obtain the regulatory navigation patent

  1. Evidence of registration of the title of ownership of the vessel in the Public Registry of Panama.
  2. Original of the instrument of appointment of the resident agent of the vessel, which if issued abroad must be submitted duly authenticated.
  3. Original or certified copy of the certificate of cancellation of the previous registry or certificate of construction, in the case of newly built vessels, or document evidencing the judicial sale, which if issued abroad must be submitted duly authenticated.
  4. Evidence that the vessel has satisfactorily complied with the inspection requirements demanded by the Directorate General of Merchant Marine.
  5. Certificate of Insurance or other Financial Security in respect of Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, (BCC 2001). (Vessels with 1000GT or above)
  6. Certificate of Insurance or other Financial Security in respect of Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, (CLC 92). (Oil tankers with 2000 dead weight or above)
  7. Certificate of Insurance or other Financial Security in respect of Liability for the death of and personal injury to passengers, (PAL 2002). (For passenger’s vessels)
  8. Certificate of Insurance or other Financial Security in respect of Removal of Wrecks, (WRC 2007). (Vessels with 300 GT or above)
  9. Financial Security for Repatriation, (Maritime Labour Convention 2006, A2.5.2). (Vessels with 500 GT or above engaging in international voyages)
  10. Financial Security Relating Shipowner Responsibility, (Maritime Labour Convention 2006, A4.2.1). (Vessels with 500 GT or above engaging in international voyages)
  11. Certificates and technical and safety documents requested by the Directorate General of Merchant Marine according to the type of service of the vessel, its cargo, and other relevant considerations.
  12. Proof of payment of the applicable fees.
  13. Any other requirement requested by the Directorate General of Merchant Marine.

Inland service vessels are not required to submit the instrument of appointment of the resident agent referred to in point 2 when the application for flagging has been submitted directly by the owner.

Order your navigation patent

Navigation Patent
(Inland)

To Pay Now:$2000
Total:$2900

$2,000.00Add to Order

Navigation Patent
(International)

To Pay Now:$2000
Total:$3400

$2,000.00Add to Order

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