LRIT Testing and Certification for Panama-flagged vessels

LRIT Conformance Testing and Certification for Panama-Flagged-Vessels is regulated by the Panama Maritime Authority Merchant Marine Circular MMC-195 v4.0. 

Starting July 1st, 2023, LRIT Conformance Test Reports issued on behalf of the Government of Panama are issued in electronic format only and are delivered as digitally signed PDF documents sent by email. 

The new format introduced the following changes:

1. Electronic CTRs have a validity period of one year. 
2. Electronic CTRs include features that will enable the verification of the electronic CTR’s status at any time as well as it's authenticity and integrity:

• A QR code that when scanned will link to a web page to verify the validity of the electronic CTR.
• A verification code that can be used to check the status of the electronic CTR when scanning the QR code is not possible.
• PDFs will be digitally signed. These digital signatures will use the Certification Authority of the Government of Panama. An image of a holographic signature may be included but is not necessary.

The new conformance test rules for Panama-flagged vessels introduced the following changes:

1. When an electronic CTR reaches the end of its validity period a new Conformance Test must be passed to obtain a new electronic CTR valid for the next year.
2. Ships joining the Panama registry must request a new Conformance Test even if the ship already has a valid Conformance Test performed by us because the Panama Maritime Authority no longer accepts Conformance Tests completed while the ship was in another flag.
3. Changes to the ship particulars (ship name, call sign, MMSI, gross tonnage, sea areas) require obtaining an updated electronic CTR with the new details. The updated CTR does not require a new Conformance Test and the validity period is the same as the original electronic CTR.

As of January 1st, 2024, All Panama-flagged ships must have obtained the first electronic CTR except ships that passed the Conformance Test in the first half of 2023, who have until June 30th, 2024 to comply.  If your vessel still has an older CTR on paper you need to request a new Conformance Test and an electronic CTR now.

If your vessel does not have an electronic CTR and the last Conformance test was completed before 2023, you need to request a new Conformance Test and electronic CTR now.

If your vessel does not have an electronic CTR and the last Conformance test was completed in the first half of 2023, you need to request a new Conformance Test and electronic CTR when the Conformance Test is one year old. We recommend starting the process a week or two in advance.

If your vessel already has an electronic CTR you need to request the next Conformance Test and electronic CTR by the date printed in the CTR (See Valid Until). We recommend starting the process a week or two in advance.

To request a Conformance Test you need to access our Self-Service portal .

If you don't have an account you can create one from the login page.

The user guide for the self service portal can be downloaded here.

Once in the portal you will need to register your vessel first and then request the  Conformance Test 

To register the vessel you will need to:

• Enter or confirm contact information for the vessel.
• Fill out the vessel details.

To request the Conformance Test you will need to:

• Select a registered vessel
• Select when to start the test
• Enter or confirm contact information
• Confirm the vessel is ready for testing
• Process payment

If you selected to start the test immediately it will start as soon as the payment is confirmed.

If you selected to start the test at a scheduled date it will start on the date you selected, you can change the date or start the test manually at any time before that date.

If you selected to start the test by yourself, you need to return to the portal when the vessel is ready to be tested, locate the vessel in the list of registered vessels and click on Start Test.

Important:

Before starting the test you will need to confirm the unit is ready to be tested. Failure to check the recommendations shown will likely result in a failed test and you will need to buy a new test.