The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) has issued Merchant Marine Circular (MMC-391) on 26 May 2021 regarding the operational procedure for multiple load line certificates onboard Panamanian flagged ships.

The PMA highly recommends that Panamanian flagged ships with multiple load line certificates onboard ensure that the Safety Management System (SMS) is revised and updated accordingly in accordance with MMC-391, 4.2.1 with the purpose of avoiding possible detentions.

The outline of the revision and update of the SMS is as follows.

The SMS is to be revised and updated accordingly for multiple load line assignment, considering at least the following points:
(a) One (1) load line certificate is to be in use at any given time.
(b) Additional load line certificate is to be kept in separate files under the safe custody of the Master.
(c) Official entry is to be made in the logbook whenever there is a change in load line markings.
(d) GT and NT as well as the deepest draft condition are to remain unaltered.
(e) Statutory certificates, other than the additional load line certificate, are to include only the maximum deadweight corresponding to the vessel's assigned freeboard.

The Circular also provides additional information on more common detainable deficiencies onboard ship related to multiple load line certificates that should be avoided.

(To be continued)