Panama Canal Authority Safe Boarding Week
In an effort to promote safe boarding and compliance with canal requirements, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is holding its annual “Safe Boarding Week” from 8-12 July 2013. During this period, the ACP will emphasise and encourage safe boarding practices on all vessels arriving at the waterway.
We have been advised that “Safe Boarding Week” activities will involve inspections of boarding facilities by teams representing groups who normally board vessels, such as canal port captains, pilots, transit vessel inspectors, chemists and emergency response personnel as well as ship’s agents and deckhands.
Vessels at both Cristobal and Balboa anchorages will be boarded to inspect their boarding facility arrangements utilising the attached inspection checklist and masters should be provided with the results immediately after inspection. Any vessel with boarding arrangements determined to below an acceptable standard will be expected to correct the deficiencies prior to transit.