Panama cracks down on STS transfers in bid to clean up fleet

The Panama Ship Registry has become the first flag in the world to implement stricter controls and mandatory traceability for offshore ship-to-ship (STS) transfers of hydrocarbons. Non-compliance—depending on its severity—may lead to the cancellation of a vessel’s Panamanian registration. The regulation requires all Panamanian-flagged oil tankers with a gross tonnage of 150 or more to …