maritime

Inspections stepped up

The Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (AMP) will collaborate with other state authorities to make sure all boats transporting people or cargo comply with safety measures.

LA PRENSA

On board. All boats comply with the AMP’s safety regulations.976775

In anticipation of the influx of people travelling to Panama City by boat for the upcoming Carnaval celebrations, the Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (AMP) has announced that it's stepping up operations to enforce the rules for the safe transportation of passengers and cargo.

The AMP will coordinate its efforts with the Dirección de Puertos e Industrias Marítimas Auxiliares, the Servicio Marítimo Nacional, the Sistema Nacional de Protección Civil (Sinaproc), the Cuerpo de Bomberos de Panamá and the Policía Nacional. Inspection operations will be conducted at the nation's major ports, docks, berths, private marinas, and wherever else required, explained Alfonso Castillero, the director of the Marina Mercante de la AMP.

Life jackets, flares, and radio communication equipment, are just a few of the things authorities will be looking for during their inspections. Boats must also be properly outfitted to accomodate passengers, have a trained crew, navigational lights and an outboard motor in good condition, not to mention the proper paperwork.

"The objective is to ensure that all passenger and cargo carrying ships comply with security measures," Castillero specified. The operations are carried out throughout the year, but are more vigoursly enforced during Carnaval because of the increased number of people travelling by sea, added the deputy director of Operaciones Marítimas, Zoila Yanisselli.