PANAMA
Maritime Authority (AMP) yesterday approved
an additional $250
charge for issuing the mandatory five-year
ISPS Code certificate. The decision follows
last week's appointment of Fort
Lauderdale-based security company Phoenix
Management Services as sole Recognised
Security Organisation (RSO) certifying
Panamanian-flagged vessels. The company,
which will act through its subsidiary
Phoenix Vessels Security, has only 11 months
to issue ISPS code certification to the
registry's 6,500 vessels over 500 GT. The
RSO will inspect the implementation of
ships' security plans, but AMP must deliver
the final certificate before the code enters
force on July 4, 2004.
Source
: Lloyd's Register - Fairplay
