Panama Maritime Authority F-34
General Directorate of Merchant Marine (DCCM)
Control and Compliance Department V.04
CONCENTRATED INSPECTION CAMPAIGN (CIC) 2025 – THE TOKYO AND PARIS
MOUS ON BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT (BWM)
No: MMN-05/2025
1. The purpose of this Merchant Marine Notice is to communicate to all
Shipowners/Operators, Legal Representatives of Panama Flag Vessels, and Panama
Merchant Marine Recognized Organizations (ROs) that Member Authorities of the Tokyo
and Paris Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Port State Control will launch a joint
Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Ballast Water Management (BWM).
2. This inspection campaign will be held for three months, commencing on September 1,
2025, and ending on November 30, 2025. The campaign will examine specific areas
related to Ballast Water Management (BWM) in conjunction with the regular Port State
Inspection. A ship will be subject to only one inspection under this CIC during the
campaign period.
3. The CIC assists in raising awareness among shipowners, operators, and crew regarding
the specific requirements of the BWM Convention.
4. The purpose of the CIC on Ballast Water Management (BWM) is:
• To combat the spread of invasive alien species and pathogens by mandating that
ships effectively remove or neutralize any water-borne organisms and pathogens
present in ballast water before its release elsewhere.
• To emphasize the need for ships to employ approved Ballast Water Management
Systems (BWMS) or alternative measures to achieve compliance with the
Convention’s standards.
• To promote the implementation of the BWM Convention in an efficient and
effective manner.
5. Port State Control Officers (PSCOs) will use a pre-defined questionnaire during the CIC.
If deficiencies are found, actions by the Port State Control may vary, from registering a
deficiency and instructing the master to rectify it within a certain period of time to
detaining the ship until the serious deficiencies have been rectified.
6. For further reference, please find the following links:
https://www.tokyo-mou.org/
https://parismou.org/
7. This Administration encourages all Shipowners/Operators, Legal Representatives of
Panama Flag Vessels, and Panama Merchant Marine Recognized Organizations (ROs)
to review the standards of compliance with the BWM Convention and the Ballast Water
Management Convention 2004, Panama Policy (MMC-345).
August, 2025 – Change in paragraph 2 (date).
July, 2025 – New
Inquiries concerning the subject of this Merchant Marine Notice or any other request should
be forward to:
Navigation and Maritime Safety Department
General Directorate of Merchant Marine
Panama Maritime Authority
Phone: (507) 501-5084
E-mail:
[email protected] Website: https://panamashipregistry.com/marine-category/marine-notices/
