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MMC 285 Rev. DCCM 25 01 2022 CSG
MMC 285 Rev. DCCM 25 01 2022 CSG
(DCCM)
V.04
Purpose
1. This Merchant Marine Circular supersedes MMC-21, MMC-43, MMC-65 and MMC-73.
Application
2. Chapter V regulation 14 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
(SOLAS), as amended establishes that Contracting Governments undertake, each for its
national ships, to maintain, or, if it is necessary, to adopt, measures for the purpose of
ensuring that, from the point of view of safety of life at sea, all ships shall be sufficiently
and efficiently manned.
3. Effective as of January 1983, Panama registry requires that every Passenger and Cargo
Vessel of more than 200 GRT registered under the Panama Flag should have on board a
Minimum Safe Manning Certificate. As well in 1986 and 1987 the requirement for a
"Minimum Safe Manning Certificate" was extended to Mobile Offshore Drilling Units and
Offshore Supply vessels registered with Panama. The Administration revised all the
existing resolutions regarding the Rules for the Issuance of the Minimum Safe Manning
Certificates contained in previous Resolutions No. 614-308-ALCN of December 31, 1982,
Resolution No. 603-04-222-ALCN of October 27, 1986 and Resolution No. 603-04-42-
ALCN of April 8, 1987, through Resolution No.106-147-DGMM of October 15, 2013.
4. Article 3 of Resolution MSC.325(90) establishes that in accordance with article VIII (b) (vii)
(2) of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the amendments
shall enter into force on January 1, 2014.
6. Having considered the Content of the Resolution A.1047(27), this Administration has
changed the form of the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate in order to be in accordance
with the model set out by the Resolution.
7. A new review of the Republic of Panama Rules for the issuance of the Minimum Safe
Manning Certificate (MSMC) has been approved by Resolution No. 106-176-DGMM dated
December 15, 2021 and posted through the Republic of Panama Official Gazette of
January 7th, 2022.
8. According to the new revised Rules the MSMC applies to vessels holding a Registry
Certificate for International Service:
11. In events where FPSOs/FSUs have to be disconnected and moved off location to avoid
adverse/severe environmental conditions/loads, for dry-docking repair or maintenance
work, it is recommended that they possess a level of safety equivalent to that afforded by
the SOLAS; therefore, an authorization to ensure such safety level could be issued by this
Administration through Segumar Offices, as a transitional measure until the event is
completed and the FPSO/FSU returns to its stationary location.
12. The period of validity of the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate is indefinite unless the
circumstances of equipment, trading area, and type of service change enough to affect the
prescribed manning. The certificate shall be renewed every time that there is a change of
name of the vessel, call sign and/or Company.
13. Furthermore, the Administration stipulated as of January 1, 1987 the fee for issuance of
this certificate has been USD150.00.
New Form
14. Minimum Safe Manning Certificate in new forms is being issued since October 1, 2013 for
vessels newly applying or requesting a new Minimum Safe Manning Certificate as well for
existing ships holding a Minimum Safe Manning Certificate. Since August 1st, 2018,
Minimum Safe Manning Certificates (MSM E-Certificate) (for cargo, passenger, supply
vessels & tug boats), shall be requested through E-Segumar, therefore the period of grace
to re-issue existing MSM Certificates at no-cost have ceased. You may apply for the MSM
E-Certificate online to the Segumar Office of your convenience. In case of Mobile Offshore
Units please contact [email protected]
15. It is important to indicate that the total main propulsion machinery power shall be stated in
Kilowatts (kW) at the time of your application. Kilowatts (kW) is the unit measure used for
certification of chief engineer officers and second engineer officers of ships powered by
main propulsion machinery of between 750 kW and 3,000 kW propulsion power.
16. Other applications forms to request the minimum safe manning certificate to Mobile
Offshore Unites is available in https://panamashipregistry.com/forms-requirements/ option
“Maritime Safety”, then option “Segumar”.
17. We remind you that our Administration is fully committed to grant you the best service in
the most prompt and efficient possible way.
18. Last but none the least, this Administration understood that some ships due to their size
are carrying personnel in addition to the minimum certified manning, and considering that
most of the times the manning does not include this personnel, the Administration has
decided to include the following notation within the Minimum Safe Manning Certificates as
follows: “The certificate of competency (CoC/CoP) provided shall also authorize the holder
thereof to perform any lower ranking position, as long as it is of the same nature as the one
for which the respective CoC or CoP was issued”. For example, in case that One Able
Seaman (II/4) is not on board the Able Seafarer Deck (II/5) could perform such duties.
19.1. The Able Seafarer Deck (ASD) and the Able Seafarer Engine (ASE), whose
standards of competence were included through STCW Convention’s Manila
Amendments 2010 under the regulations II/5 and III/5 respectively will be inserted on
the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate as an alternative Grade / Capacity to the
existing Rating forming part of the Navigational Watch (II/4) and Rating forming part of
a Watch in an Engine Room (III/4).
19.2. The Electro-technical Officer (ETO) and the Electro-technical Rating (ETR)
(whose standards of competence are III/6 and III/7 respectively), also included through
said Amendments, are not mandatory to be inserted on the MSMC issued by this
Administration.
19.3. By virtue of the STCW Regulation I/14, companies will have responsibility to
ensure if a dedicated ETO is or not required onboard it vessels. Please bear in mind
the content of IMO Res. A. 1047 (27), on submission from the Companies for
determination of the minimum safe manning of a ship, which should be based on
operational functions, Operational factors, task capabilities and workload
assessments.
20. Considering the above described, the MSMC of a vessel could be amended by this
Administration if, after an evaluation and request submitted by the company, is determined
that an additional Grade/ Capacity on it is required to ensure that its ship/unit is sufficiently,
effectively and efficiently manned.
21. In case of having questions related to Certificate of Competence (CoC), Certificate of
Competence’s Endorsement, Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) or any other consultation of
certification to be held by Seafarers onboard, in those particular cases, they shall directly
be sent to our colleagues of the Directorate General of Seafarer whose email addresses
are available in MMC-175.
Inquiries concerning the subject of this Merchant Marine Circular or any other request should
be forward to: