Panama Issues Strong Warning To Its Ships In High-Risk Conflict Zones

The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) has warned all Panamanian-flagged ships to take extra precautions while sailing through high-risk areas in the Middle East.

Through Maritime Notice MMN 04/2025, issued by its General Directorate of Merchant Marine (DGMM), AMP highlighted serious security concerns for vessels navigating near Iran, Israel, the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the DGMM, the conflict in these regions may pose direct threats to both vessels and their crew members.

In response to the situation, AMP has advised vessels to implement several safety measures.

• Increase onboard security levels before entering the affected regions.
• Conduct a fresh threat assessment for each voyage through these areas.
• Keep continuous watch from the ship’s bridge.
• Stay alert on communications and monitor surroundings closely.
• Prevent any small boats from approaching.
• Enforce strict control over anyone boarding the vessel.

Additionally, AMP has also issued another advisory, Maritime Notice MMN-03/2025, focusing on the Port of Ras Isa in Yemen. It said that the port remains a hotspot for operational, legal, and safety risks, especially with the recent escalation of violence in the area and changes in U.S. sanctions policy.

As of April 4, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced it would not renew General License 25A. That license had allowed limited operations at ports controlled by Yemen’s Houthi movement.

With the license now expired, any delivery or unloading of petroleum products at such ports, like Ras Isa, is considered material support to a terrorist organisation under U.S. law.

Several ships have already been penalised under these rules. AMP stated that these sanctions could apply not only to the vessels themselves, but also to their owners, insurers, operators, and financiers.

Due to this, ships anchored off Ras Isa have been advised to carefully evaluate all legal and safety risks before transferring oil or related cargo. AMP also recommended that all shipowners consult with experienced legal experts before making any decision to operate at Ras Isa or other Houthi-controlled ports.

Both maritime notices aim to protect Panamanian vessels and their crews while urging extreme caution in these unstable and high-risk maritime zones.

Reference: Panama Maritime Authority (PMA)