# Panama ship registration fees and annual tax

Panama’s ship registry fees are set by law and published by the Maritime Authority in circular MMC-232. A ship pays a one-time registration fee and then, every year, an annual tax of US$0.10 per net ton, a consular fee, an inspection fee and a casualty investigation fee scaled by tonnage. For a bulk carrier of 5,000 gross tons and 3,000 net tons, the yearly charges are US$3,640.

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## A worked example

A bulk carrier of 5,000 gross tons and 3,000 net tons:

| Charge | Bracket | US$ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual tax | US$0.10 per net ton | 300 |
| Annual consular fee | over 3,000 up to 5,000 gross tons | 2,000 |
| Annual inspection, cargo ship | over 1,600 up to 5,000 gross tons | 850 |
| Casualty investigation and conferences | over 500 up to 10,000 gross tons | 400 |
| Casualty investigation, per net ton | US$0.03 per net ton | 90 |
| Total each year | | 3,640 |
| Registration fee, once | over 2,000 up to 5,000 gross tons | 2,000 |
| First year | | 5,640 |

Source: Merchant Marine Circular MMC-232, sections 1 and 5 to 8; Law 4 of 1983, articles 3 to 6; Law 19 of 1992, article 2

## Other official fees

- Deletion from the registry: US$1,000.
- Extension of the provisional patent: US$50 a month.
- Extension of the provisional radio license: US$150 for each three-month period.
- Preliminary mortgage recording: US$450 for the first US$2 million, plus US$150 per additional million, up to US$1,200.
- Private yachts: a single fee of US$1,500 every two years, or US$1,000 for an owner of Panamanian nationality.

Source: Merchant Marine Circular MMC-232, sections 2, 3, 4 and 6; Law 19 of 1992, articles 3 and 5

## Discounts

Discounts are requested by a memorial filed through an attorney, with a sworn statement that proves the economic group, and a ship gets only the highest discount it qualifies for.

[Photo: Gualberto107](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Balboa_Port.jpg)· [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) 
- Groups with 5 to 15, 16 to 50 or more than 51 ships registered on the date the law was enacted: 20, 35 or 60 percent off the registration fee, annual tax and consular fee of the year a new ship is registered.
- Three or more ships of a group registered together or within the same calendar year: 25 percent under 30,000 gross tons, 40 percent from 30,000 to under 100,000, and 60 percent from 100,000.
- New constructions and ships registered within five years of keel laying, up to 50 percent of the first year for new constructions of 100,000 gross tons or more.
- No port state detention in 24 months: 15 percent off the next year’s annual tax and consular fee.

Source: Law 57 of 2008, articles 149 to 152

## What is not in the example

The circular itself warns that other fees may apply: technical certificates, the radio account and the inspector’s travel costs, which the owner pays. Our professional fees are separate and quoted in writing.

Source: Merchant Marine Circular MMC-232, section 9; Merchant Marine Circular MMC-171, section 8.3

## Questions people ask

### Is the MMC-232 fee table still in force?

Yes. It is published by the Authority, is not on its list of cancelled circulars, and its figures match the laws that set them.

### Is the fleet discount 50 or 60 percent?

The law sets 60 percent for groups of more than 51 ships. We have found no basis for a 50 percent cap.

### Is the drilling platform incentive still available?

No. It applied only to platforms re-registered in the first two years after the law took effect in 2009.

## What the law does not say

- Whether any later rule has changed the figures in MMC-232.
- The fee for the special temporary registry for scrapping or delivery voyages, which the Authority’s board sets by tonnage.
- Whether a ship exempted from inspection by its risk profile still pays the annual inspection fee.
- The content of the 2024 and 2025 resolutions that waive up to 100 percent of fees for new constructions.

## Official sources

- [MMC-232, registration, annual tax, casualty investigation and inspection fees](https://www.panamashipregistry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/232.pdf)
- [MMC-171, flag state safety inspections](https://www.panamashipregistry.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/MMC-171-08-05-2026.pdf)
- [Official Gazette of Panama](https://www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa/)

Last verified: October 28, 2026

Header photo: [ImagePerson](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Container_Vessel_HS_Mozart_Gatun_Lake_Panama_Canal_0682.jpg), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), cropped.

## Keep reading

- [Provisional and permanent registration](/provisional-and-permanent/)
- [Yacht registration](/yacht-registration/)
- [Ships under construction](/newbuildings/)

## Registering a vessel in Panama?

Book a free 15-minute call with a Panamanian lawyer. We will tell you what your ship needs and what to prepare.

[Book my free call](/contact/) [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/50761970238?text=Hi%2C%20I%20would%20like%20a%20consultation%20(from%20panamashipregistration.com).) [contacto@iurispa.com](mailto:contacto@iurispa.com)