Located in the center of Manila's shipping community, the Shipping Department of the Embassy and Consulate General of the Republic of Panama offers prompt and reliable services to address the needs of users of the Panama flag.

• Vessel Registration

The enrollment consists of two stages: provisional and permanent. The Consulate will handle the initial paperwork and is authorized to issue temporary documentation including a provisional Certificate of Registration (also known as “Patente”), valid for 6 months and a provisional Radio License, valid for 6 months.

• Title Registration

The Consulate is authorized to register in preliminary form the Bill Of Sale or any other title of ownership, such as a builder’s certificate.

• Mortgage Registration

The Consulate is entitled to register in preliminary form a naval mortgage against a Panamanian vessel. Mortgages are bilateral contracts between the mortgagor (ship owner) and the mortgagee (lender). The Consul shall legalize the signature of both parties. The procedure is straightforward and is usually completed within the same day.

• Mortgage Discharge Registration

The Consulate is entitled to register in preliminary and permanent form a discharge of naval mortgage against a Panamanian vessel.

• Bareboat Charter Registration (Dual Registry)

Under bareboat charter, a ship owner leases a ship to an operator -the charterer- which becomes responsible for the operation of the vessel. According to Panamanian Law, which allows Dual Registry, that vessel, already registered in one state, may be registered under the flag of another state for the duration of the charter (up to two years, renewable).The dual registry system allows a charterer, leasing a ship registered in a country without an open registry, to benefit from the advantages of the Panamanian Registry. It also allows the ship owner to maintain the original registration, which is merely suspended during the dual registration but regains its effectiveness upon termination of the charter. The authorization of the original flagging state, as well as the ship owner's, is necessary. The Consulate is allowed to handle the required procedure.

• Name Registration

It is possible to reserve in advance the name of a vessel in construction, or scheduled for construction, provided this name is available.

• Special Provisional Registration

Vessels of international service destined for scrap, delivery voyages or any other mode of temporary navigation may apply for a provisional Registry and a Radio Permit both of which are valid for three months.

• Taxation Issues

Panamanian vessels are subject to the payment of a moderate annual fee calculated on the basis of their tonnage. The Consulate is specifically appointed to collect those fees and is entitled to issue official receipts instantaneously, to avoid any administrative delay.