The
Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) has employed
Phoenix Management Services Group as the sole
recognised security organisation (RSO) that
will certify Panama-flagged vessels for the
ISPS Code.
The
Fort Lauderdale-based group, comprising
several maritime and aviation
security companies, will be responsible for
verifying almost 6,500 vessels in the next 11
months.
Phoenix,
through its Panamanian subsidiary, has strong,
established links with the country through
contracts with the three major port operators
and Petroterminales de Panama. Phoenix also
provides security for, among others, Maersk
Sealand, NYK Line, P&O Nedlloyd and the
Standard Fruit Co.
The
AMP, in signing the contract with Phoenix
yesterday, did not publicly reveal how much it
is paying the Americans to sign off on the
world's largest flag
state fleet.
Phoenix
will work with the AMP's own security
division, created last December under deputy
administrator Captain Luis Perez
Salamero, with a staff of eight.
