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Panama Flag of Panama

Communications:  Pratique | Pre-Arrival
Facilities:  Medical
Local Info:  Time | Holidays | Weather
Shore:  Banks
Crew:  Leave | Repatriation
Misc:  General
General Information for Panama
Geo-political:
Capital City: Panama City. 08° 58.00′ N, 079° 32.00′ W
Nationality: (noun) Panamanian(s), (adjective) Panamanian.
Population: 3,894,082 (July 2020).
Communications:
International Direct Dial Code: 507.
Number of Internal Airports: 117 (2013).
Major Languages Spoken: Spanish (official), indigenous languages , Buglere, Kuna, Embera, Wounaan, Naso , and Bri Bri (including Ngabere (or Guaymi; or Teribe; ), Panamanian English Creole (similar to Jamaican English Creole; a mixture of English and Spanish with elements of Ngabere; also known as Guari Guari and Colon Creole), English, Chinese (Yue and Hakka), Arabic, French Creole and others (Yiddish, Hebrew, Korean, Japanese).
Economy:
Currency: 1 Balboa (PAB) of 100 Centesimos.
Exchange Rates:  (as of February 2021)
USD 1.00 = PAB 1.00
PAB 1.00 = USD 1.00
Exchange rates under licence from XE.com
Main Industries: Construction, brewing, cement, other construction materials and sugar milling.
Agricultural Products: Bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables, livestock and shrimp.
Imports: Fuels, machinery, vehicles, iron, steel rods and pharmaceuticals.
Exports: Fruit, nuts, fish, iron, steel waste and wood.
Commodities: Products: Exports 66 bbl/d. Imports 129,200 bbl/d.
Environment:
Territorial Sea: 12 n.m.
Contiguous Zone: Contiguous Zone: 24 n.m. Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 n.m.
Coastline Extent: 2,490 km.
Climate: Tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May).
Natural Resources: Copper, mahogany forests, shrimp and hydropower.
Natural Hazards: Occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area.
Terrain: Interior mostly steep, rugged mountains with dissected, upland plains; coastal plains with rolling hills.
Average Temperatures: 
Month High Low
January 29° C 25° C
June 30° C 25° C
September 30° C 24° C
PRATIQUE:  The Pan American Sanitary Code:  Established by the signatory governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United States of America, Uruguay, and Venezuela, being desirous of entering into a sanitary convention for the purpose of better promoting and protecting the public health of their respective nations, and particularly to the end that effective cooperative international measures may be applied for the prevention of the international spread of the communicable infections of human beings and to facilitate international commerce and communication.
Full details available from the Pan American Health Organization website. www.paho.org/
Bills of Health: 
  1. The Master of any vessel or aircraft which proceeds to a port of any of the signatory governments is required to obtain at the port of departure and ports of call, a Bill of Health, in duplicate, issued in accordance with the information set forth in the appendix and adopted as the standard Bill of Health.
  2. The Bill of Health will be accompanied by a list of the passengers, and stowaways, if any, which shall indicate the port where they embarked and the port to which they are destined, and a list of the crew.
  3. Consuls and other officials signing or countersigning Bills of Health should keep themselves accurately informed with respect to the sanitary conditions of the ports, and the manner in which this code is obeyed by vessels and their passengers and crews while therein. They should have accurate knowledge of local mortality and morbidity, and of sanitary conditions which may affect vessels in port. To this end, they shall be furnished with any information they request pertaining to sanitary records, harbours, and vessels.
  4. The signatory governments may assign medical or sanitary officers as public health attaches to embassies or legations, and as representatives to international conferences.
  5. If at the port of departure there is no consul or consular agent of the country of destination, the Bill of Health may be issued by the consul or consular agent of a friendly government authorised to issue such Bill of Health.
  6. The Bill of Health should be issued not to exceed 48 hours before the departure of the ship to which it is issued. The sanitary visa should not be given more than 24 hours before departure.
  7. Any erasure or alteration of a Bill of Health shall invalidate the document, unless such alteration or erasure shall be made by competent authority, and notation thereof appropriately made.
  8. A clean Bill of Health is one which shows the complete absence in the port of departure of cholera, yellow fever, plague, typhus fever, or of other pestilential disease in severe epidemic form, liable to be transported by international commerce. Provided that the presence only of bona fide imported cases of such disease, when properly isolated, shall not compel the issuance of a foul Bill of Health, but notation of the presence of such cases will be made under the heading of ``Remarks'' on the Bill of Health.
  9. A foul Bill of Health is one which shows the presence of non-imported cases of any of the diseases referred to in 8. above.
  10. Specific Bills of Health are not required of vessels which, by reason of accident, storm or other emergency condition, including wireless change of itinerary, are obliged to put into ports other than their original destinations, but such vessels shall be required to exhibit such Bills of Health as they possess.
  11. It shall be the duty of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau to publish appropriate information which may be distributed by port health officers, for the purpose of instructing owners, agents, and Masters of vessels as to the methods which should be put in force by them for the prevention of the international spread of disease.
Other Sanitary Documents:  Every vessel, carrying a medical officer, will maintain a sanitary log which will be kept by him, and he will record therein daily: the sanitary condition of the vessel, and its passengers and crew; a record showing the names of passengers and crew which have been vaccinated by him; name, age, nationality, home address, occupation and nature of illness or injury of all passengers and crew treated during the voyage; the source and sanitary quality of the drinking water of the vessel, the place where taken on board, and the method in use on board for its purification; sanitary conditions observed in ports visited during the voyage; the measures taken to prevent the ingress and egress of rodents to and from the vessel; and the measures which have been taken to protect the passengers and crew against mosquitoes, other insects, and vermin. The sanitary log will be signed by the Master and medical officer of the vessel, and will be exhibited upon the request of any sanitary or consular officer.
In the absence of a medical officer, the Master shall record the above information in the log of the vessel, insofar as possible.
Equal or similar forms for Quarantine Declarations, Certificates of Fumigation, and Certificates of Vaccination, set forth in the appendix (not reproduced), are hereby adopted as standard forms.
PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION:  Single Window System:  The Republic of Panama has chosen not to develop a completely new system, but to use the existing Panama Canal Maritime Service Portal to declare government formalities, thus converting it into the Maritime Single Window (Ventanilla Unica Marítima de Panama - VUMPA) as of 20 November 2017.
The Panama Canal operates VUMPA and all declared information is shared with other Panamanian government agencies. In addition, the vessel’s inspection result is also shared among all government agencies. If vessel complies with all formalities in a timely manner, correct matter, and no incident is reported during inspection, the vessel will be allowed to begin cargo operations as soon as the berthing procedure has been completed.
In this first phase, all vessels with calls to the anchorage and/or port terminals located in Panama Canal waters, including vessels to transit the Panama Canal shall declare the required information through VUMPA. The declared information is then forwarded from VUMPA to the competent authorities responsible for further processing. The implementation date of additional phases will be published accordingly. Meanwhile, all vessels arriving at all other ports out of this first phase shall report arrival formalities as established in Resolution DGPIMA-001 related to Pre-arrival Notice System of the Panama Maritime Authority.
96-Hour Notification:  At least 96 hours before arrival, the following shall be declared:
  1. vessel name, ETA, port of arrival, draft
  2. cargo declaration, including dangerous cargo
  3. Crew List
  4. last ten ports of call
  5. Maritime Declaration of Health
  6. vessel’s admeasurement information, if first visit to the Republic of Panama
  7. vessel’s changes since last visit, if any
  8. vessel’s security information – ISPS Notification
  9. Stores List
  10. Crew Effects Declaration
  11. Bonded Stores List
  12. Waste Declaration
  13. Vaccination List
  14. Last Port Clearance.
Additionally, the following is required if this is the first time vessel has visited Panama:
  1. International Tonnage Certificate
  2. PC/UMS Documentation of Total Volume of suitable substitute
  3. volume calculations (if available)
  4. Suez Canal Certificate (if available)
  5. International Load Line Certificate (if multiple Load Lines exists, provide one with the least freeboard
  6. Pilot Card
  7. Ship’s Particulars
  8. Registry Certificate
  9. Classification Certificate
  10. Minimum Safe Manning Document
  11. International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate
  12. Passenger Ship Safety Certificate (Form P)
  13. Certificate of Fitness (chemical tankers and gas carriers)
  14. General Arrangement Plan 1
  15. Capacity Plan with deadweight scale 1
  16. Midship Section Plan 1
  17. Lines Plan (if available) 1
  18. Shell Expansion Plan 1
  19. Docking Plan 1
  20. Visibility Plan 1
  21. Trim & Stability Booklet 1
  22. Lightship Test Report or Result Deadweight Measurement report (for dry bulkers) 1
  23. Container Loading or Stowage Plan when fully loaded (full container vessels only) 1
  24. Cargo securing Manual (full container vessels only) 1.
1 in pdf or autocad format only, in one plan (not sections).
On Arrival:  The following documentation shall be ready for inspection:
  1. cargo on board and the document certifying the amount and type of cargo (Cargo manifest, Bill(s) of Lading)
  2. International Ship Security Certificate
  3. Ship Safety Equipment Certificate
  4. IOPP Certificate
  5. Certificate of fitness (LNG, LPG, chemical and oil tankers)
  6. International Safety Management Certificate
  7. Classification Certificate
  8. Ship Sanitation Control (Exemption) Certificate
  9. International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate
  10. ACP Tolls Basis Certificate (if Canal transit)
  11. International Load Line Certificate
  12. International Tonnage Certificate
  13. Trim & Stability Booklet
  14. Storage Plan
  15. General Arrangement Plan.
Vessels are required to coordinate their fumigation upon arrival. Vessel must obtain free pratique before permitting others to board vessel. Agents shall declare the fumigation date and upload the fumigation document of certification.
Full details of VUMPA available at serviceportal.pancanal.com
MEDICAL:  Panama City has some good private hospitals and clinics but medical facilities outside the capital are limited. Make sure you have adequate insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment and repatriation.
Malaria and dengue fever are common in parts of Panama, including in some outlying areas of Panama City. Dengue fever can occur throughout the year and there is no vaccine or treatment. There have been reports of an increase in incidences of dengue fever in Panama City.
There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in the provinces of Darien, San Blas, or east Panama. This does not include Panama City and the Canal Zone. Visitors should seek specialist advice about the need to receive yellow fever vaccine if travelling to these areas.
In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 20,000 adults aged 15 or over in Panama were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 0.9% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.
Also see General
HOLIDAYS:  1 January (New Year's Day); 9 January (Martyr's Day); Day before Ash Wednesday (Mardi Gras); Good Friday; 1 May (Labour Day); 3, 5, 10 and 28 November (Independence Days); 8 December (Mother's Day); 25 December (Christmas Day).
WEATHER/TIDES:  During the rainy season (May to January) occasional flooding and landslides occur in rural areas and some city streets become temporarily impassable due to flooding. October and November normally have the heaviest months of rainfall.
Natural Disasters:  There is a possibility of earthquakes in Panama. The most recent one, at a magnitude of 5.5, struck on 23 January 2010 in the west of the country in the province of Chiriqui, near the border with Costa Rica. The last major one struck the north of Panama on 4 July 2009, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale. There was no major damage caused on either occasion.
Also see General
BANKS:  ATMs are widely available in banks, shopping malls, drive-thrus, etc., and they accept most major foreign credit and debit cards. The daily withdrawal limit varies between banks, as does the commission or fees charged for its use. Credit/debit cards are also widely used for payment in establishments. Many restaurants, hotels and shops will only accept USD20 notes or require identification for use of larger value notes because of problems with counterfeit USD50 and 100 notes.
Bank transfers are difficult, expensive and can take several days, although Western Union or Money Gram offer a quicker service. Foreign cheques cannot be cashed in Panama. Travellers' cheques are difficult to exchange and rates of commission are very high, so these are best avoided.
SHORE LEAVE:  You should not carry large sums of cash or valuables in public. Be vigilant when using ATMs installed in public places, usually outside banks. There have been cases of people being attacked after drawing cash from these machines. There have also been instances of devices being inserted in ATMs, which allow cards to be cloned. Ensure that your personal belongings, passports and other travel documents are secure at all times.
Beware of pickpockets in busy thoroughfares, on buses and at bus stations. Be alert for muggers particularly in the main shopping areas especially in the city of Colon, where unemployment, street crime and drug usage are high.
Also see General
REPATRIATION:  A USD40 airport tax (payable only in cash) is charged upon departure but this is sometimes included in the airline ticket fare. You should check with your carrier.
All disembarking passengers, crew and others shall avoid bringing the following into the Republic of Panama waters or territory:
  1. controlled drugs such as opium, heroin, morphine, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), MDMA and barbiturates
  2. firearms, ammunition, realistic imitation firearms, and explosives including fireworks and ammonium nitrate
  3. offensive weapons such as flick knives, butterfly knives, belt buckle knives, push daggers, swordsticks, hand and foot claws, death stars, spring operated telescopic truncheons, blow pipes, knuckledusters, hollow kubotan, certain martial art type items, curved blade swords with a blade over 50 cm. and any knife which has a concealed blade or concealed sharp point and is designed to appear to be an everyday object
  4. indecent or obscene materials featuring children, such as books, magazines, photographs, films, videos and IT equipment including software
  5. material other than related to the type of consensual sexual activity between adults which can be legally purchased in Panama
  6. most animals and birds, whether dead or alive
  7. meat, dairy products, vegetable (whether fresh or dried), fish, poultry, honey and most of their products (whether or not cooked) from outside Panama
  8. plants, bulbs, fruit, potatoes and other tubers.
Also see General
GENERAL:  Information obtained from the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office website. Updates available at www.gov.uk/fco/