1. Aware of its responsibilities, the Republic of Panama would like to bring to the attention of owners, operators and Masters of Panamanian flag vessels, that the Paris Memorandum has established, in its section 4.31, that "a person who is employed in any capacity on board a ship, not treated by the flag state as a small ship, shall hold a medical certificate, signed by a person authorized by the competent authority of the flag state to issue such a certificate."
2. In view of the above, Panama is recommending that a copy of the medical examination, which is a present requirement for all officers and ratings serving on Panamanian flag vessels, be kept on board the vessel.
3. Hence, all officers on Panamanian Flag Vessels applying for the "Certificate of Competency" are advised to fill out the Application for Medical Examination. The yellow copy of this form is to be retained by the officer concerned as the documentation needed to satisfy the Paris Memorandum.
4. Since the requirement for the medical examination for Panamanian crew members went into effect in the middle of 1981, all crew members should at present have a medical certificate valid within the prescription of 4.3.4 of the paris Memorandum which states that "the medical certificates shall not be older than two years..."
5. It would be the responsibility of the owners operators and/or the Master of a Panamanian flag vessels to ensure that such a certificate remains valid within the two year span.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. It has come to the attention of this Administration, however, that Port States involved with the Paris Memorandum do not require additional certification of medical certificates for crew members having valid certified certificates from prior service on vessels of other flag states. In this instance, this Administration will not insist on the Panamanian certification of such medical certificates.

May 1992

Inquiries concerning the subject of this Circular should be directed to:
Directorate of Consular and Maritime Affairs, New York Representative Office,
Republic of Panama, 1180 Avenue of the Americas, 23rd Floor
New York, New York 10036, U.S.A.