Consulate General of Panama 
SEAMAN BOOK OF PANAMA
The Consulate General of Panama in Marseille has within its powers the issuance and delivery of the Panamanian Seaman Books. This document allows both French and foreign sailors and officers to work on ships flagged in the Panamanian registry.
By obtaining your Panamanian Seaman Book, you will be part of a select group of around 300,000 sailors and officers who work on Panamanian-flagged ships in all the seas and oceans of the world.
Procedure
The Consulate General of Panama in Marseille uses, since June 1, 2017, the new application of the automated system for Seafarers called SAA, which allows seafarers or officers to submit applications electronically via e-mail, without having to present the documents physically.
Through this system you will be able to obtain your Transitory Certificate (TC), within a period of 24 hours, which will allow you to work on board for a period of 3 months.
The issuance of the printed Seaman Book will be processed in parallel to the issuance of the TC, which will be delivered to you within approximately 15 business days.
Our Consulate offers users, who request the Panamanian Seaman Book and the transitory certificate (CT), reduced issuance and courier fees, allowing us to send official documentation to any destination around the world.
Official Prices
Using the services of the Consulate General of Panama in Marseille, to obtain your Seaman Book, you will have access to the official rates established by the Panama Maritime Authority.
In addition, to all our clients, we provide personalized, safe and efficient services, through an experienced work team available to meet your requests 24 hours / 7 days a week.
| For the following services | |
|---|---|
| For the following services: Master and Chief Engineer | : 275,00 $ |
| For the following services: Deck, Engine, M.O.U, M.O.D.U and Radio Electronic Officers | : 270,00 $ |
| For the following services: Ship Security Officer | : 185,00 $ |
| For the following services: General and Restricted GMDSS Operator | : 185,00 $ |
| For the following services: Deck, Engine and Catering Department | : 175,00 $ |
| For the following services: Alternative Certification (REG. VII/1, STCW 78, as amended) fishing, river, M.O.U and M.O.D.U ratings and Cruise Ship Hotel Staff | : 175,00 $ |
| For the following services: Yacht’s Personnel | : 160,00 $ |
| Ratings Panamanians in general | 10,00 $ |
|---|---|
| Ratings Panamanians in general : Endorsement of Basic Safety Courses for Panamanians and Foreigners for each course (Section A-VI/1, A-VI/1-2, A-VI/1-3 and A-VI/1-4 of the STCW 78, as amended) | 10,00 $: 10,00 $ |
| Ratings Panamanians in general : General and Restricted GMDSS Operator | 10,00 $: 16,00 $ |
| Ratings Panamanians in general : Ship Security Officer | 10,00 $: 20,00 $ |
| Ratings Panamanians in general : Endorsement of the Basic Safety Training Familiarization (VI/1 A-VII/1 PART 2) | 10,00 $: 20,00 $ |
| Ratings Panamanians in general : Master and Chief Engineer | 10,00 $: 25,00 $ |
| Ratings Panamanians in general : Endorsement of Familiarization and Advance Tanker Courses: (according to Reg. V/1 of the STCW 78, as amended) | 10,00 $: OIL : 30,00 $ CHEM. : C/U LPG : E/O |
| Ratings Panamanians in general : Single rate for Panamanians | 10,00 $: |
| Endorsement of specialized courses for Panamanians ans foreigners | |
|---|---|
| Crowd management and passengers safety V/2&3 A-V/2 | 30,00 $ |
| Crisis management and human behavior V/2&3 A-V/2 | 30,00 $ |
| Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats V/2 A-VI/2-1 | 30,00 $ |
| Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats VI/2 A-VI/2-2 | 30,00 $ |
| Advanced Fire Fighting VI/3 A-VI/3 | 30,00 $ |
| Medical Care VI/4 A-VI/4-2 | 30,00 $ |
| Rating’s Navigational Watchkeeping Reg. II/4 | 30,00 $ |
| Rating’s Engine Room Watchkeeping Reg. III/4 | 30,00 $ |
| Other courses | |
|---|---|
| Duplicate of the Title, Title Endorsement, Officers and Rating’s Seaman Book and course endorsement (foreigners) | 70,00 $ |
| Duplicate of the Title, Title Endorsement, Officers and Rating’s Seaman Book and course endorsement (Panamanians) | 40,00 $ |
| Endorsement Ship Security Officer | 50,00 $ |
| Ship Training for Seafarers with Designated Security Duties | 30,00 $ |
| Ship Security Awareness | 20,00 $ |
| Other courses | |
|---|---|
| Other courses: Documents Revision and Handling per Service | : 20,00 $ par document |
| Other courses: Streamlining for process that does not qualify as urgent (from 18th September 2017) | : 100,00 $ |
| Other courses: Verification of each course for COC endorsement, if the issuing center is not recognized by AMP (from 18th September 2017) | : 50,00 $ |
Attention:
Shipping costs vary depending on the country of destination.
Check with us the preferential shipping rates of the Consulate General of Panama in Marseille.
Administrative conditions
Each request must be submitted with the technical documentation according to the category of Seaman Book requested.
Please note that the following requirements will apply to each application for sailors or officers:
- Application form, completed and signed by the applicant (please specify position)
- Photocopy of the candidate's passport
- Medical certificate (Regulation I/9), signed and sealed by a doctor approved by the Directorate of Seafarers of the Panama Maritime Authority. Here you will find the official list of doctors approved in France
- Letter from your employer in English or Spanish, with the employer's signature on a headed piece of paper specifying the position of the subordinate or sailor
- 4 x 4 cm size identity photo in jpg format (you can check the recommendations below)
- Candidate's signature scanned, use black ink. (size 3 x 1 inches, in jpg format)
To know the technical conditions of endorsement of Certificates of Competence or specialized courses that are required by the applicant, please insert your information in the contact us section or you can send your query to the following email panaconsmf@wanadoo.fr
Contact us
zoom on
A Registry of Marine Merchant that is 100 years old and offers job opportunities to sailors and officers
When Law 63 of December 15, 1917 promulgated the creation of the Merchant Marine Registry of Panama, no one had imagined that Panama would have had the largest shipping fleet in the world 100 years later.
Indeed, currently, the country has about 18% of world market registrations, 222.6 million-GRT, 1.2 million annual ship transactions, more than 8,000 vessels, more than 300 local staff, more than 200 inspectors worldwide, and over $ 25 trillion in collateral for mortgages.
The General Consulate of Panama in Marseille offers the new application of the Seaman Book which now allows French sailors and officers to work on boats registered under the flag of Panama. To date, more than 300,000 people worldwide, sailors and officers, benefit from a Panamanian Seaman Book, allowing them to work on Panamanian boats. There are many work opportunities for French sailors on Panamanian boats and yachts, but few know how to access them. Indeed, it is only 1 833 French who currently benefit from this opportunity. The absence of a Training center approved by the Panama Maritime Authority and the obligation for the French to have to carry out this step abroad explain in part this observation.
The new automated system offers to all, the possibility of obtaining a Seaman Book or a Temporary Certificate without going through the tedious filing of paper files and the too long and costly mailing. From now on, it is enough to go to one of the 64 Consulates of Panama among which one counts for France, that in Marseille.
The Panama Maritime Authority wanted to simplify the procedures to obtain the Seaman Book, lighten them and of course, secure them. In addition to being less complex, this new procedure is less expensive (minimum shipping costs) and is part of a process of security and transparency desired by the Government of the Republic of Panama. The persons who submit their application to the General Consulat of Panama in Marseille, pay the Official Tariff of the Panama Maritime Authority, without any consular administrative fees nor payment to intermediaries (brokers). We strongly recommend that you apply directly through the General Consulate General of Panama in Marseille to benefit from the official rate.
