FYBy Fernando Yemail Owner of Feeling Yachty · USCG-licensed captain· 3 min read · Updated October 2026
Not every boat in Panama can take paying guests. The Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (AMP) separates pleasure from commercial registration, and only a boat registered and inspected for commercial use can charter. A foreign-flagged yacht on a cruising permit is in transit and cannot work; to charter it needs to be imported and placed under Panamanian commercial registration, or operate under a flag and arrangement the AMP accepts. The captain needs an AMP licence appropriate to the boat, and crew need the marinero licence, with the employer carrying Panamanian labour and social security obligations.
The questions people ask: can my US-flagged boat charter in Panama, what licence must my captain hold, and is bareboat legal here. The first answer is usually no, not as it stands. The second depends on the boat's size and class, but a licensed Panamanian or AMP-endorsed captain is the norm. The third: bareboat exists but is uncommon, hard to insure and misunderstood by enforcement, so most operators run captained trips.
This collection will cover which boats can charter in Panama (flag, registration class, inspection), whether a US- or foreign-flagged boat can charter, captain and crew requirements for commercial trips, bareboat charter in Panama, charter management programmes, and turnaround operations between trips. The Panama City crew-hiring and captain-jobs guides are live now.
The Florida vessel eligibility sub-hub is the twin: there the questions are coastwise endorsement and inspected versus uninspected, here they are flag, AMP class and import status.
Not on a cruising permit alone. A foreign-flagged yacht can carry paying guests only through a Panamanian company licensed by the AMP for yacht chartering, which applies for a charter navigation permit for that yacht (AMP Resolution J.D. 089-2020; Decreto Ejecutivo 4 of 2025). Importing and reflagging is the other route. Confirm the current permit and fee with the AMP before advertising trips.
What licence must a charter captain have in Panama?
An AMP licence from the Dirección General de Gente de Mar matched to the vessel's size and class, such as an operador de lancha or patrón grade for small boats. Foreign licences need AMP recognition.
Is bareboat charter legal in Panama?
Yes, through an AMP-licensed yacht charter company: AMP Resolution J.D. 089-2020 allows bareboat charters, and the renter needs an AMP permit letter plus a licence that matches the yacht. Without that licensing it is an illegal charter. Insurers are cautious, so most Panama City operators run captained trips.
Use the relevant Panamanian authority for current requirements and fees. These resources are the next place to check; a practical recommendation is not an agency determination.
