PORTS BY COUNTRY · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Ports in Panama
NaviBoss has port guides for 14 ports in Panama, 12 of them with the pilot boarding place on the chart. Its coast lies in NAVAREA IV and NAVAREA XII, buoyage follows IALA region B and ships are inspected under the Tokyo MOU.
All 14 ports in Panama
Each name opens its port guide: where the pilot boards, local time and summer time, water density, load line zone, the maximum draft per terminal, reporting before arrival and inspections.
| Port | UN/LOCODE | Pilot | Deepest berth | Warnings area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aguadulce | PAAGD | Yes | — | NAVAREA XII |
| Almirante | PAPAM | Yes | 10.7 m | NAVAREA IV |
| Bahia Las Minas | PAPBM | Yes | 12.2 m | NAVAREA IV |
| Balboa | PABLB | Yes | 14.4 m | NAVAREA IV |
| Bocas del Toro | PABOC | Yes | — | NAVAREA IV |
| Charco Azul Terminal | PACHA | Yes | 22.6 m | NAVAREA XII |
| Chiriqui Grande Terminal | PACHG | Yes | 21.0 m | NAVAREA IV |
| Colon | PAONX | Yes | 16.5 m | NAVAREA IV |
| Cristobal | PACTB | Yes | 13.5 m | NAVAREA IV |
| Fort Amador | PAFAM | Yes | — | NAVAREA IV |
| Melones Oil Terminal | PAMEL | — | 15.0 m | NAVAREA IV |
| Panama Canal | PAPCN | Yes | — | NAVAREA IV |
| Taboguilla Island Terminal | PATBG | — | 15.0 m | NAVAREA IV |
| Vacamonte | PAVAC | Yes | — | NAVAREA IV |
Navigational warnings
Panama's waters are in NAVAREA IV and NAVAREA XII. A ship there keeps the in-force warnings of that area, and of any NAVAREA it passes on the way.
Before you call at Panama
Pre-arrival reporting
Vessels calling at ports in Panama are expected to provide information regarding:
Please see pre-arrival information of individual ports for more details.
ISPS (ship and port security)
ISPS Designated Authority:
1. For Ports and Ship Registry:
Contact person: Chief of Port Security Department
Address: Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), Diablo Heights, Building 5534, PO Box 8062, Panama 7, Republic of Panama.
Tel: +507 232 7352
Mobile: +507 660 61057.
Website: www.amp.gob.pa
2. For the Panama Canal:
Contact person: Manager - Canal Security Division.
Address: Panama Canal Authority (ACP), Balboa - Ancon, Republic of Panama, PO Box 5413, Miami FL 33102-5413
Tel: +507 272 4646, Cell: +507 614 1941.
Recognised Security Organisations:
RSO - ISSC Issue: Phoenix Management Service Group, Universe Security Group (London), Singapore Technologies.
RSO - Security Consultant Services: MUSC, Secure Maritime Group (St Petersburg, Florida).
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)
Panama has signed a PSI ship boarding agreement with the USA aimed at stemming the flow of weapons of mass destruction. If a US or Panama flagged vessel is suspected of trafficking proliferation related cargo, either party to this agreement can request authorisation to board, search and possibly detain the others vessel and its cargo.
Dialling code +507. · The unit of currency in Panama is the Balboa (Ba). 1 Balboa = 1 USD.
These country notes come from public port references and some may be several years old. Check with your agent.
Questions about ports in Panama
How many ports in Panama have a NaviBoss port guide?
14 ports, 12 of them with at least one pilot boarding place on the chart. Each guide gives the pilot station, local time, water density, load line zone, maximum draft per terminal, pre-arrival reporting and inspections.
Which NAVAREA is Panama in?
Panama's ports lie in NAVAREA IV (4) and NAVAREA XII (12), depending on the coast.
Which IALA buoyage region does Panama use?
IALA region B: red to starboard when entering harbour.
Who carries out Port State Control in Panama?
Ships calling at Panama are inspected under the Tokyo MOU.
What time zone are Panama's ports in?
UTC−5, with no summer time.
Which port in Panama takes the deepest draft?
Of the ports with a figure, Charco Azul Terminal: its deepest listed berth takes 22.6 m. Check the terminal and the latest port notices before you plan to it.
More guides
- Ports by countryevery country with port guides
- Sea distances between portsreal distances on shipping lanes
- NAVAREA warningsthe 21 areas and who broadcasts them
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NaviBoss guides are written and checked by maritime industry experts, masters and deck officers. Each one is built from the same data the planner uses, dated, and rebuilt when that data changes. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.
A planning aid, not for navigation. Check official charts and publications, the latest notices and your company's instructions before you rely on any figure here.