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The latest news and developments from Panama, one of the world’s most important shipping nations.

Panama Registry opens technical office in Hong Kong

Panama has opened a new technical office (SEGUMAR) in Hong Kong to provide support and technical advice to users of the Ship Registry

Michele Labrut, Americas Correspondent

February 24, 2021

1 Min Read
Hong kong skyline
Photo: Pixabay

Adding to 14 international offices of the registry it will also provide issuance of important technical certifications for the vessels flying the flag of Panama.

 The new SEGUMAR office, located in Central Hong Kong, will service the Hong Kong fleet which represents 6.8%of the total Panamanian merchant fleet. It will work alongside the Panama Consulate for the best of the Hong Kong ship owners’ community.

The Panama Maritime Authority’s Directorate General of Merchant Marine through its Department of SEGUMAR is improving the Ship Registry’s operations with innovations and digitalisation of its processes.

The creation of the module for the issuance of the Harmful Materials Listing (HML) Declaration of Compliance in electronic format -available on the "E-Segumar Application" platform within the "Applications Forms" section- allows the user to complete their data and process their documentation securely and quickly, since 1 September 2020.

 The modules for issuing authorisations electronically were created and their new functionality of digital controls were incorporated, with the premise of optimising the tasks inherent to the SEGUMAR department.

These actions represent significant improvements in terms of the department's functions. The unification of formats and the use of QR codes allow interested parties to immediately check the validity of documents issued electronically by the Panama Ship Registry.

Related:Panama Registry closes 2020 with 230.5m gt on its books

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About the Author

Michele Labrut

Americas Correspondent

Michèle Labrut is a long-time Panama resident, a journalist and correspondent, and has continuously covered the maritime sector of Central & Latin America.

Michèle first came to Panama as a press attaché to the French Embassy and then returned to the isthmus as a foreign correspondent in the 1980s.

Author of Seatrade Maritime's annual Panama Maritime Review magazine and of several books, Michèle also wrote for Time magazine, The Miami Herald, NBC News and the Economist Intelligence Unit. She has also collaborated in making several documentaries for the BBC and European and U.S. television networks.

Michèle's profession necessitates a profound knowledge of the country, but her acumen is not from necessity alone, but a genuine passion for Panama.

In 2012 she was awarded the Order of Merit (Knight grade) by the French Government for her services to international journalism and in 2021 the upgrade to Chevalier grade.

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