The Maritime Authority of Panama (AMP) has obtained the recertification ISO 9001:2015 for its key departments: the General Directorate of Seafarers (DGGM) and the General Directorate of Public Registry of Vessels (DGRPN). This international recognition under the ISO 9001:2015 standard strengthens the quality standard of the Panama Ship Registry and the processes for the certification of seafarers.
The scope of the DGGM certification includes the supervision of maritime training provided by Panama's authorized Maritime Training Centers, the recognition of officers for the issuance of medical certificates, and the provision of certification services for seafarers working on Panamanian-flagged vessels.
The scope of the DGRPN certification includes the registration of titles, mortgages, ownership limitations, and encumbrances on vessels that make up the national merchant marine. This achievement consolidates the entity's commitment to transparency, continuous improvement, and efficiency in its Quality Management Systems (QMS).
The AMP's sub-administrator, Alexander De Gracia, emphasized that this recognition is a reflection of the sustained technical effort of the teams and the trust placed in the Panamanian Registry by its users.
The director of the DGGM, Felipe Arias, indicated that the external audit evidenced the effective coordination of all personnel.
The sub-director of the DGRPN, Lourdes Sandoval, explained that this recertification is particularly relevant following the implementation, in May 2025, of the Electronic Vessel Registry (REN), which has digitized and modernized the department's processes.
The Office of Planning of the AMP led the strategy to strengthen the Quality Management System, with technical support from Bureau Veritas, an entity with 198 years of global experience in certification and inspection.
The representative of the certifying body, Bureau Veritas, José Aurelio Chong, emphasized that this achievement positions the AMP as a benchmark among ship registries worldwide.
