With effect from 1October 2007 vessels failing to submit a compliant Panama Canal Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (PCSOPEP) at least 96 hours prior to arrival at Canal waters will be classified as non-compliant and will no longer be granted a grace period. Under such condition, the vessel will be scheduled as Tier 3 and will be charged accordingly, as well as for additional resources assigned to the vessel due to this non-compliance. In addition, the vessel will only be programmed for transit after the ship owners, operators or shipping agent have paid or provided satisfactory guarantees for the payment of the applicable sanction, which will be set at a minimum of $2,500.00. Subsequent arrivals to Panama Canal waters under similar non-compliance conditions will generate increased sanctions that may result in denial of transit.
Regulations requiring at least 96 hours advance submission of a PCSOPEP have been effective since 1 January 2005 and apply to vessels with fuel and/or oil cargo-carrying capacity of 400 MT or more. Non-compliance with the above constitutes a violation of Chapter IX, Section Four of the Maritime Regulations for the Operation of the Panama Canal, and may subject the vessel to sanctions in accordance with Chapter XI, Offenses, Sanctions and Sanctioning Proceedings of said Regulations.Non-compliance with the above constitutes a violation of Chapter IX, Section Four of the Maritime Regulations for the Operation of the Panama Canal, and may subject the vessel to sanctions in accordance with Chapter XI, Offenses, Sanctions and Sanctioning Proceedings of said Regulations.
(Based on the PCA MR’S Advisory to Shipping No. A-19-2007 of August 10 2007)
