Reference:
Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006)
1. That through Executive Decree No. 86 of February 22, 2013, the National Legislation on the Maritime
Labour Convention, MLC, 2006 was adopted and extensively discussed in tripartite sessions where
representatives of seafarers, shipowners and the Panama Maritime Authority participated.
2. The purpose of this circular is to inform users of the Panamanian registry that from March 11, 2013, the
International Technical Office of Segumar Panama shall issue at no cost, the Declaration of Maritime
Labour Compliance, Part I, (DMLC-Part I) in digital format where the national regulations required to
certificate the vessel in accordance to the guidelines of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC,
2006), are regulated.
3. That the Segumar offices in New York, Greece, Korea, Singapore and Tokyo shall start issuing the
DMLC, Part I, by the end of March, 2013.
4. Vessels with a gross tonnage of 500 GT or more, engaged in international voyages, and those with a
gross tonnage equal or over 500 GT flying the Panamanian flag and operating from a port, or between
ports from another country, must have on board and in a visible place a copy of the Maritime Labour
Convention and the Maritime Labour Certificate complemented with the Declaration of Maritime Labour
Compliance, which consists of two parts, DMLC-Part I and DMLC-Part II.
5. In accordance with the MLC 2006, the term “international voyage” refers to a voyage from a country to
a port located outside such country.
6. Vessels with a gross tonnage from 200 GT to 499 GT engaged in international voyages or voyages
between ports, may voluntarily request the Maritime Labour Certificate, for which compliance with all
national regulations shall be required.
7. In order to obtain the Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance Part I, the Application Form must
be sent by the user.
8. Once the DMLC Part I is issued, the shipowner shall complete the Declaration of Maritime Labour
Compliance Part II (DMLC-Part II), indicating the actions taken in order to ensure permanent compliance
with the national requirements during the periods between surveys, as well as the measures proposed for
guaranteeing continuous improvement of the aspects subject to survey.
9. That a recognized organization (RO) authorized by the Panama Maritime Authority, shall endorse the
Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance Part II (DMLC-Part II), once the full inspection has ended in
accordance to the requirements of the MLC, 2006; and shall proceed to issue the Maritime Labour
Certificate valid for five (5) years from the date of completion of the inspection on which this Certificate
is based, in accordance to the MLC, 2006.
10. The shipowners to whose vessels were conducted a full inspection, as per Regulation 5.1.3 of the
Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), at the time of publication of this circular, are entitled to
request the DMLC, Part I; proceed with the corresponding processing and use the inspection report to
immediately issue the certificate valid for five (5) years from the date of completion of the inspection
which shall be issued by a recognized organization authorized by the Panama Maritime Authority.
11. If a vessel under the Panama Flag is properly certified in accordance with the guidelines of the MLC,
2006 and it changes name or suffers any substantial changes to the structure or equipment covered in Title
3 Standard A3.1, it must request the DMLC-Part I to the administration and the shipowner must prepare
the DMLC- Part II, in order to process the renewal of the maritime labour certificate.
12. The DMLC Part II must include the vessel name, the IMO number and the gross tonnage in
accordance to the template given by the administration.
13. There shall only be one DMLC Part I template for all vessel categories under the Panama Ships
Registry.
14. The recognized organizations authorized shall only act in accordance to the guidelines provided by the
Resolution, which authorizes them in matters related to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, (MLC,
2006).
15. The Interim Maritime Labour Certificate may be issued for a period not exceeding six (6) months
according to standard A5.1.3.6 and A5.1.3.8 of the MLC. In case that the interim certificate expires, an
extension cannot be authorized or allowed, thereby in this case the RO should request authorization to
issue a conditional certificate. Request for authorization shall be addressed to mlc@segumar.com
16. Intermediate Surveys: A change of RO would not affect the validity of already issued certificates.
Each intermediate survey must use as reference the date of the initial survey whether the vessel change or
not of RO.
In case of change from RO to another then the new Certificate will be issued provided the previous
certificate remain valid.
17. Applications shall be submitted to the following email accounts:
mlc@segumar.com – Panama
segumarseoul@segumar.com – Seul, Korea
segumarbusan@segumar.com – Busan, Korea
new.york@segumar.com –New York
segumar@panaconsul-tokyo.com – Tokyo, Japan
segumar.imabari@segumar.com – Imabari, Japan
segumar.sg@segumar.com – Singapore
jracine@panamaconsulate.gr – Piraeus, Greece
segumarpg@segumar.com
segumarist@segumar.com – Istanbul, Turkey
18. Those users that require the original template of the DMLC Part I must request it through email or in
writing directly to the International Technical Office of SEGUMAR. The original template of the DMLC
Part I shall be provided shortly after the request has taken place.
19. When the DMLC Part I is requested by the ship’s legal representative, it shall be the same as it is
stated on ship Registry Certificate (Patent). As well the Recognized Organization certifying the ship shall
be the one who is able to request the issuance of the DMLC Part I.
20. This Merchant Marine Circular revokes Merchant Marine Circulars MMC-248, MMC-254, MMC-
256 and MMC-280.
Jun 2016 – Modification of point 17 and addition of new paragraphs 15 and 19.
Aug 2015 – Modification of point 17 and addition of new paragraph.
March 2015 – Modification of point
17
July 2014 – Addition of new email address for Busan
July 2013 – Correction of email address in point 15 (Piraeus, Greece)
April 2013 – New point 16 and elimination of second paragraph on point 2
March 2013
Inquiries concerning the subject of this Circular or any request should be directed to:
Maritime Labour Section
Directorate General of Merchant Marine
Panama Maritime Authority
Phone: (507) 501-4241
Fax: (507) 501-5363 / 5364
Email: mlc@segumar.com
mlcsegumar@amp.gob.pa