Groundings and collisions in Panama: reefs, tides, logs

After a grounding or collision in Panama, check everyone for injuries, then the hull for water. Call VHF 16 and 911 if anyone is in danger, and report it to the AMP. On the Pacific, a 5 m tide usually decides when you float off. On the Caribbean, the hazard is coral.

The first checks after any impact

1. People. Count heads. Look for head injuries and anyone thrown overboard.
2. Water. Open the bilge and the lockers along the hull. Check the shaft seal and rudder post. Start the pumps if there is water.
3. Engines. Stop them if the propeller or rudder has hit something, or if the cooling water intake may be blocked.
4. Position. Mark it on the GPS and note the time and the state of the tide.
5. Call. If anyone is hurt or the boat is taking water, call mayday or pan-pan on VHF 16 and dial 911. The full list is in who to call.

Aground on the Pacific: let the tide work

The ACP's Amador tables show spring tides moving about 5.7 m of water in about six hours. That makes Pacific groundings very different from Florida's:

• On a falling tide, the boat will soon be sitting on the bottom. Trying to power off often digs the keel or props in deeper. Instead, set an anchor toward deep water to stop the boat being driven further on. Reduce weight where you can, and support a keel boat so it lies over on the side you choose.
• On a rising tide, wait. The water comes back quickly. Keep the anchor line tight so the boat moves toward deep water as it floats.
• Drying anchorages. In Las Perlas, mudflats and sand bars appear at low water. The eastern shore of the Bahía de Panamá dries for a long way. Pick anchorages for the lowest low you will see. See the tides and currents guide.

Once afloat, check the hull again before you leave. A boat that sat on rock can have damage that only leaks under way.

Reefs on the Caribbean side

On the Caribbean, the tide range is under 0.6 m, so waiting rarely floats you off. Coral reefs line San Blas, Portobelo and Bocas del Toro. Cruising guides warn that charts there may be unreliable. Navigate with the sun high and behind you, with someone on the bow watching for colour changes.

If you hit a reef:

• stop, and back off the way you came in only if the hull is sound and the way is clear
• do not grind forward over coral
• use a kedge anchor set in sand, not in coral, to pull the boat off
• photograph the site and the damage

Reef damage matters to the authorities. In Guna Yala, the communities set their own rules. In protected areas, MiAmbiente does. See San Blas reef protection.

Logs and debris after heavy rain

From May to November, rivers flood into the sea after storms. They carry whole trees, branches and rubbish, which float low in the water. Logs are hardest to see at night, at speed and in a chop. They damage propellers, shafts and hulls, and can bend a rudder on impact.

• Slow down after heavy rain, especially near river mouths and in the Bahía de Panamá.
• Do not run at speed at night in the rainy season.
• After any impact, check for vibration. A bent prop or shaft shows up as a new vibration at cruising revs.

Collisions: ships, pangas and other boats

Panama's busiest water is the canal approach, with ship anchorages off Balboa and Colón. Large ships cannot stop or turn quickly. In canal waters, monitor VHF 12 and 16 and follow the ACP signal stations. See canal approach traffic safety.

Small fishing boats and water taxis are the other risk. Many travel fast and some run at night without proper lights. Keep a lookout, use radar at night if you have it, and slow down near fishing grounds.

After a collision:

• help the other boat first if anyone is in danger. Assisting people in danger at sea is a basic duty for every captain.
• exchange names, vessel names and registration numbers, and insurance details
• photograph both boats and the position on the plotter
• report it to the AMP, which investigates collisions through its maritime investigation department

In November 2024, for example, the AMP's investigation department opened an inquiry after a barge struck a structure at Isla Colón in Bocas del Toro.

After you are safe

• Report. The AMP's accident line takes groundings and collisions. See reporting a boating accident.
• Insurance. Notify your insurer before repairs. Some policies limit cover outside named waters; see navigation limits.
• Tow and haul-out. A boat with a damaged rudder or shaft needs a tow; see towing and salvage.

Your practical starting checklist

1. Check people, then the bilge, then the engines after any impact.
2. Mark the position and note the time and tide state.
3. On the Pacific, set an anchor toward deep water and wait for the flood.
4. On a reef, back off only the way you came, and never grind forward over coral.
5. Exchange details and photograph both boats after a collision.
6. Report the grounding or collision to the AMP and your insurer.

Frequently asked questions

The next question to answer

Every number in one place. Read Boating emergencies in Panama: who to call.

Plan for a 5–6 m range. Read Panama Pacific tides and currents.

The AMP, SENAN and police. Read Reporting a boating accident.

Same topic in Florida: coming from the US? Compare One moment, please....

Official resources

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.

• ACP: Amador tide tables 2026 ↗
• ACP: Limón Bay tide tables 2026 ↗
• AMP: AMP investiga choque de una barcaza en Isla Colón, Bocas del Toro (Nov 2024) ↗
• AMP: Líneas de emergencia (accidents, Segumar) ↗