The Panama Maritime Administration strongly recommends all Panama-flagged vessels to avoid transit and operations in Ukrainian and Russian waters of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov due to the ongoing security risks, including military threats, missile and drone attacks, drifting sea mines, damage to port infrastructure, and restrictions on navigation.

Vessels operating in Ukrainian ports or transiting the affected areas shall:

• Maintain enhanced security measures in accordance with the Ship Security Plan and ISPS Code requirements;
• Follow instructions issued by local authorities and maintain close communication with local agents;
• Keep AIS, LRIT, and VHF Channel 16 operational at all times, unless their use may compromise vessel security;
• Conduct ship- and voyage-specific risk assessments before entering affected areas and review security procedures accordingly.

The notice also highlights that:

• Navigation in the Sea of Azov remains restricted and highly risky;
• Entry and departure from Ukrainian ports may be subject to approval by local authorities;
• The deployment of armed security personnel onboard Panama-registered vessels in Ukrainian and Russian waters is prohibited;
• If AIS/LRIT equipment is switched off due to security concerns, the vessel’s status and crew condition must be reported every four hours to the Panama Maritime Administration.

Any security incident or suspicious activity must be immediately reported to the Panama Maritime Administration and relevant security authorities.

To read the full-text click here and download.

If you have any other questions or need our assistance, do not hesitate to contact us via office@panamaukraine.com.