PCSOPEP Requirements

PCSOPEP Requirements

PCSOPEP (Panama Canal Shipboard Oil Pollution Control Emergency Plan) Requirements

All toll-paying vessels with 400 MT or more carrying capacity of oil as cargo and/or fuel are required to submit a valid Panama Canal Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency plan 96 hrs prior to arrival to canal waters to Panama Canal Authorities to the email pcsopep@pancanal.com, otherwise, the vessel will be subject to a fine, with possible delays in her canal transit.

Upon expiration or invalidation of the Notice of Acknowledgement, vessels must resubmit the entire updated PCSOPEP and the IOPP or IPP certificates.

Additionally, a copy of the Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP), Annex I, MARPOL, or a copy of the Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan (SMPEP), Annex II, MARPOL, must be available upon request.

Plan resubmissions must also be sent not less than 96 hours prior to the vessel’s arrival at Panama Canal waters.

Effective January 18, 2021, vessels determined to be non-compliant with PCSOPEP requirements will only be scheduled for transit after they fulfil both of the following requirements:

(1) The owner, operator, or the vessel´s shipping agent has paid or has placed a satisfactory guarantee for the payment of the applicable sanction, by sending the letter of acceptance and undertaking of payment, which is available at: http://www.pancanal.com/maritime/forms/Acceptance_and_Commitment.docx;

and,

(2) The vessel submits a PCSOPEP that complies with the requirements established in Notice to Shipping No.12-2021 at least 96 hours prior to arrival at Canal waters.

The sanction will be set at a minimum of $2,500.00.

Sample PCSOPEP Notice of Acknowledgement and PCSOPEP Non-Compliance Forms

For further information or clarification, please feel free to contact us.

Our office provides coverage of Authorized Persons to respond to oil spills in Canal Waters and can develop a/o submit PCSOPEP plans to Canal Authorities upon your request.

At Cross Roads Agencies we have the expertise, quality and local knowledge to properly guide our principals and ensure the safest way to cross the continents.