The Panama Maritime Authority has issued Merchant Marine Circular MMC-144 (Sep. 2022) regarding the implementation of the carriage of immersion suits onboard Panama flagged ship. The followings are excerpts from the requirements for the carriage of immersion suits.

- Sufficient number of immersion suits for training purposes are to be carried.
- A ship other than bulk carrier as defined in 1974 SOLAS regulation IX/1, as amended, which is constantly engaged on voyages in Warm Climates, between Latitude 30 degrees North and 30 degrees South, may be exempted from carrying immersion suits.
- Ships shall continue to carry the number of Lifejackets Required by 1974 SOLAS regulation III/7.2, as amended, even if the immersion suits are classified as Lifejacket.

For further details, please refer to the relevant Merchant Marine Circular posted on the following website.
URL:https://panamashipregistry.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/MMC-144-SEGUMAR-Sept-2022-Rev-MR.pdf

For any questions about the above, please contact:

NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK)
Material and Equipment Department, Administration Center Annex, Head Office
Address: 3-3 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0094, Japan
Tel.: +81-3-5226-2020
Fax: +81-3-5226-2057
E-mail: eqd@classnk.or.jp