Panama to stop registering tankers and bulkers over 15 years old

The Panamanian Ship Registry has announced it will no longer accept the registration of oil tankers and bulk carriers that are older than 15 years. The flag state stated the move is intended to optimize the operational performance of its fleet, minimise the risk of detentions, and prevent the entry of vessels from the so-called “ghost fleet.”

The decision responds to an analysis of inspection and detention data, which showed that 71 per cent of detentions of Panamanian-flagged vessels between 2023 and the first half of 2025 involved bulk carriers, general cargo vessels, and oil tankers older than fifteen years.