Maritime Law · Panama · International

Panama Maritime Law —
Ship Registration,
Mortgages & Litigation

Expert Panama maritime lawyers. World's largest ship registry, naval mortgages, maritime litigation and flag of convenience services. Full English service.

Why Góndola & Góndola
  • Panama flag — world's largest ship registry
  • Ship registration in 5–10 business days
  • Naval mortgage drafting and registration
  • Maritime litigation and arbitration
  • Flag state correspondence
  • Crew and maritime labor law
Our Expertise

Why Góndola & Góndola

Panama operates the world's largest ship registry by tonnage. The Panama flag offers an internationally recognized regulatory framework, competitive fees and flexible ownership structures.

We handle the full spectrum of maritime legal services: ship registration, naval mortgages, maritime disputes and regulatory compliance for shipowners, operators and financiers.

Ex-DGI Official

Deep insight into Panama's tax authority processes.

Cornell University MPA

Master in Public Administration — law, economics and policy.

Direct partner access

You always deal directly with the attorney handling your case.

Panama Bar No. 17,005

Licensed attorney in the Republic of Panama.

1F
World's Largest Registry
10
Days to Register
AMP
Maritime Authority
EN
Full English

"Panama's maritime framework is one of the world's most tested and internationally recognized. We make it work for shipowners and financiers globally."

— Lic. José Manuel Góndola Escudero · Idoneidad No. 17,005
Services

What we provide.

Ship Registration

Complete Panama flag registration for all vessel types. Fishing, cargo, passenger and yacht.

Naval Mortgage

Drafting, negotiation and registration of Panama naval mortgages for ship financing.

Maritime Litigation

Representation in Panama maritime courts. Arrest of vessels, cargo claims and collision cases.

Flag State Services

Flag state compliance, ISM certification support and port state control assistance.

Maritime Corporate

Ship-owning company formation — Panama SA with specific maritime corporate structure.

Crew and Labor

Panama maritime labor law, seafarer contracts and crew employment compliance.

Process

How we work.

01

Document Review

We review vessel documentation, ownership and eligibility for Panama registration.

02

Corporate Setup

Formation of Panama SA ship-owning company if required.

03

AMP Filing

Filing with Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (AMP) with complete documentation.

04

Certificate Issuance

Panama registration certificate issued. Vessel is under Panama flag.

Cases

Matters we handle.

Cargo vessel registration

Complete Panama flag registration for 50,000 DWT bulk carrier with naval mortgage.

Ship Registration

Vessel arrest — cargo claim

Arresting vessel in Panama for unpaid cargo claim with rapid court order.

Maritime Litigation

Ship financing — naval mortgage

Drafting and registering naval mortgage for $15M ship financing transaction.

Maritime Finance
FAQ

Questions answered.

Why register a ship under Panama flag?

Panama flag offers internationally recognized status, competitive fees, flexible ownership structures and a large network of port state control memoranda compliance.

How long does Panama ship registration take?

Provisional registration is typically completed in 5–10 business days. Permanent registration follows within the statutory period.

What is a Panama naval mortgage?

A registered lien on a vessel under Panama law, used to secure ship financing. It follows the vessel and is internationally recognized.

Can a foreign company own a Panama-flagged vessel?

Yes. A Panama SA or foreign company can own a Panama-flagged vessel. The ship-owning company can be the registered owner.

What vessels can be registered under Panama flag?

All commercial vessel types including cargo ships, tankers, bulk carriers, passenger ships, fishing vessels and yachts.

Get in Touch

Consult your
Panama maritime matter.

Confidential consultation. We assess your vessel registration, mortgage or litigation needs.

Office

Torre Banesco, P19 · Panamá