Panama Canal
January 2022
Panama is outside of MARPOL Annex VI regulation 14 Emission Control Areas and therefore the global limit of 0.50% maximum sulphur fuel applies. However, the Panama Canal has specific fuel rules given in OP Notice to Shipping No. N-1-2022 – Vessel Requirements. NOTE: this document is updated annually
Marine Notices for the Canal can be found here https://pancanal.com/en/maritime-services/notices-to-shipping/ and the specific document from the Canal Authority website by clicking here.
Section 32 of the Vessel Requirements requires that vessels arriving at Panama Canal (ACP) waters shall switch their main propulsion engines, boilers, auxiliary generator engines, and other ancillary equipment from residual fuels to marine distillate fuels. Geographic limits of ACP waters are given.
Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems are allowed but only in Closed Loop – Zero Discharge operation. This is further clarified in section 29(6) which states: “If a Closed Loop Scrubber system is operated during Canal transit, the cleaned bleed-off water is to be retained in a holding tank on board.”
Section 16 states “Arrival of vessels that have been retrofitted with Ballast Water Treatment Rooms on deck and/or Scrubbers have recently become more frequent. In order to minimize the time our boarding officers spend on board to review all the documentation, these vessels are required to notify in advance about such retrofits.” The following conditions from section 32 also apply:
“32e. The type of fuel and scrubber combination intended for use in Panama Canal waters must be uploaded by the vessel’s local agent to the FUEL DECLARATION menu in VUMPA for all vessels arriving to Panama Canal waters. In turn, this information will be verified on the BDN or corresponding fuel analysis report by Panama Canal Boarding Officers upon the vessel’s arrival to Canal waters. Additionally, vessels with approved scrubbers, must have the following information readily available for verification: IAPP Certificate and Supplement thereof, total volume of effluent holding tanks, and logbook entries confirming that effluent holding tanks were emptied prior to arriving to Canal waters.
“32f. The use of open loop scrubbers or hybrid scrubbers in open loop mode is prohibited in Panama Canal waters.
“32g. Vessels making only a local port call and not transiting will not be required to switch their main propulsion engines, boilers, auxiliary generator engines, and other ancillary equipment to marine distillate fuel. These vessels may use marine residual fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.5% and viscosity higher than 70 cSt @50 °C or a closed loop scrubber or hybrid scrubber in closed loop and zero discharge mode.”
