Mandatory Reporting for Ship-to-Ship Transfers by Panama-Flagged Vessels

By Elida Moreno

PANAMA CITY, May 23 (Reuters) – The Panama Maritime Authority announced on Friday that it will tighten regulations for ship-to-ship operations involving vessels registered under the Panamanian flag. This move comes in response to a rise in the use of “dark-fleet” tankers, which are often employed to bypass sanctions or evade environmental standards.

The U.S. has ramped up its demands on nations with significant shipping registries, including Panama, which boasts over 8,500 flagged ships.Former President Donald Trump has voiced concerns about the growing number of these shadowy tankers transporting sanctioned oil and even hinted at potential repercussions for the Panama canal if action isn’t taken.

In light of recent investigations into regulatory breaches, Panama has removed several ships from its registry in recent months. Back in February, officials made it clear that they do not intend to be a refuge for those looking to sidestep sanctions.

A new resolution issued earlier this month mandates that all Panamanian-flagged vessels weighing more than 150 tons must inform the Maritime Authority about any planned ship-to-ship transfers at least two days prior to execution.

These notifications need to detail key information such as the identities of both vessels involved, transfer locations, types and quantities of hydrocarbons being moved, and compliance with international maritime laws.

Ships operating within dark fleets often disable their tracking systems or alter their coordinates to conceal their activities at sea.

(Reporting by Elida Moreno; Editing by Mark Porter and Kirsten Donovan)
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025.

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