The Panama Maritime Authority has introduced stricter requirements for ship-to-ship (STS) oil transfers involving Panamanian-flagged tankers to curb the operations of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet and enhance Panama’s reputation as a responsible flag state. Effective immediately, all Panamanian-flagged vessels over 150 GT must provide at least 48 hours’ advance notice for STS operations, including details on participating vessels, cargo, location, and confirmation of a MARPOL-compliant STS plan. The move follows broader international actions targeting opaque maritime practices used to bypass sanctions, with the EU recently listing over 340 vessels under restrictions and a coalition of countries stepping up enforcement through insurance checks and port access bans.
