Panama Flag Registry chooses Absolute for LRIT

The Panama Flag Registry has appointed Absolute Maritime Tracking Services (AMTS) as the sole LRIT Application Service Provider and National Data Centre provider for more than 8000 vessels operating under the flag of Panama. The appointment follows the introduction of International Maritime Organization (IMO) security regulations on Long-Range Identification & Tracking of ships (LRIT) from 31 December 2008.

AMTS says it will supply data centre hardware, software and comprehensive expertise in the collection and processing of vast amounts of ship position data.

They will test every ship under the Panamanian flag for compliance with LRIT regulation and will issue test certificates via the Panamanian administration. Registered ships will use only equipment approved by Panama as suitable for testing - mainly Inmarsat C and mini C. Director of the Panama Flag Registry, Alfonso Castillero, said the deal with Absolute Software Inc enables the registry to make available "a state-of-the art LRIT system to our maritime stakeholders."

Under the IMO regulations, all passenger ships and all cargo vessels of more than 300 tonnes are required to report their position every six hours. With more than 8,000 vessels registered in Panama, this represents a minimum of 11.6 million LRIT reports per year. AMTS will receive and process these reports for Panama, within the international LRIT system. The LRIT reports will also be available to those other coastal, port and flag states that are entitled to receive them.

Brian Mullan, Inmarsat's head of maritime safety services said: "Absolute Software Inc has long experience in tracking vessels, having for many years successfully provided regulatory fisheries monitoring on a global basis."

Director of AMTS parent company Absolute Software, Jeff Douglas, said: "We are very pleased to be selected by the Panama Maritime Authority. We look forward to working closely with the registry, shipowners and governments to ensure the success of the LRIT system, and its primary objective to enhance global maritime safety and security."