In a boating emergency in Panama, call on VHF channel 16 and dial 911 at the same time. SENAN (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval) runs search and rescue at sea. In canal waters the ACP's signal stations on VHF 12 control traffic. The AMP (Autoridad Marítima de Panamá) takes accident reports through its 24-hour lines.
Who to call first, by situation
Panama has no single coast guard. Rescue, traffic control, investigation and civil protection belong to different agencies. You do not need to choose correctly under stress. Start with VHF 16 and 911, and the agencies pass the call along.
| Situation | First call | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Life in danger at sea: sinking, fire, person overboard | Mayday on VHF 16; 911 by phone | Stay on 16. SENAN responds at sea. |
| Medical emergency aboard | 911 for an ambulance to a dock; VHF 16 if you need evacuation | Head for the nearest dock with road access |
| Any emergency in canal waters, from the Balboa or Colón approaches through the locks and lakes | Flamenco or Cristóbal Signal Station on VHF 12, and VHF 16 | Follow ACP instructions |
| Accident, collision or detention with no one in danger | AMP accident line (Segumar) | AMP 24-hour call centre or Capitán de Puerto |
| Fuel or oil spill in a port or marina | AMP spill line (24 hours) | The marina office |
| Crime, theft, threats | Policía Nacional 104 or 911 | SENAN if it happened at sea |
The agencies and what each one does
- SENAN (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval) patrols the coasts, boards boats and carries out search and rescue at sea. It works from stations including the Amador causeway. We could not confirm a published direct SENAN phone line on an official page, so reach it through 911 or VHF 16.
- SUME 9-1-1 is Panama's single emergency system. Ley 44 de 2007 created it, and phone carriers must connect 911 calls free of charge. It dispatches ambulances and passes calls to police, firefighters and SENAN.
- SINAPROC (Sistema Nacional de Protección Civil) handles civil protection ashore and on beaches. It declares weather alerts and coordinates holiday operations along the coast with SENAN and the AMP. Reach it through 911.
- AMP (Autoridad Marítima de Panamá) licenses boats and crew, sets departure restrictions in bad weather and investigates marine accidents. Its port captains (capitanías) work around the clock.
- ACP (Autoridad del Canal de Panamá) controls everything in canal waters. Its signal stations work VHF 12.
- Bomberos (Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos) fight fires at docks and marinas, often alongside SENAN boats.
Numbers confirmed on official pages
We list a number only if we found it on a page published by the agency or by another Panamanian government body. Numbers change, so check them against the source before you print your card.
| Who | Number or channel | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Emergencies (SUME) | 911 | Ley 44 de 2007 |
| Distress and calling | VHF 16 | International; the ACP requires a watch on 16 in canal waters |
| ACP Flamenco and Cristóbal Signal Stations | VHF 12 | ACP notice N-11-2026 |
| ACP Integrated Operations Control Center | +507 272-4201 | ACP notice N-11-2026 |
| AMP call centre, 24/7 | +507 501-5358, 501-5362, 501-5361 | AMP emergency lines page |
| AMP Capitán de Puerto, 24/7 | +507 232-7734 | AMP emergency lines page |
| AMP accidents and detentions (Segumar) | +507 501-5350, 501-5348, 501-5349 | AMP emergency lines page |
| AMP general switchboard | +507 501-5000 | amp.gob.pa |
| Policía Nacional | 104 | SINAPROC press note, Feb 2024 |
The AMP page also lists 24-hour spill lines for Panamá, Colón and Chiriquí. Some of its links point to different numbers from the ones it displays, so read the page itself rather than tapping a link.
Canal waters: Flamenco and Cristóbal
From the sea buoys at Balboa and Colón through the locks and Gatún Lake, the ACP is in charge. Its notice to shipping N-11-2026 says small craft must monitor VHF 12 and 16 and follow the port entry coordinators at the Flamenco and Cristóbal Signal Stations. If something goes wrong near the channel, call the signal station on 12 first. It sees the ship traffic and can stop it or warn it. Then make your distress call on 16. The ACP records traffic on channels 12, 13 and 16, which helps any later investigation. For the traffic itself, see canal approach and shipping traffic safety.
What to say: a mayday in English and Spanish
Operators on 16 and at 911 speak Spanish first. Many also speak English. Give the same five facts in the same order every time:
- Mayday three times (for urgent but not life-threatening problems, pan-pan), then the boat's name three times.
- Position: latitude and longitude from the GPS, or a bearing and distance from a named place: "2 millas al sur de Taboga".
- Problem: fire (incendio), sinking or taking on water (hundiéndonos, entrando agua), person overboard (hombre al agua), injured person (herido).
- People aboard: how many, and whether they are wearing lifejackets.
- The boat: length, colour, type, and what help you need.
Then listen. Repeat every few minutes if no one answers. A DSC radio sends your position with one button. Register its MMSI and keep the GPS connected; see VHF, DSC and EPIRB in Panama.
MRCC, EPIRBs and the international layer
International rescue guides refer to a maritime rescue coordination centre (MRCC) for Panama's waters. We could not find its contact details on an official Panamanian page, so do not rely on a number copied from a forum or an old pilot book. You do not need it in practice. A DSC distress alert, an EPIRB or a PLB sends your alert through the international system to the authorities responsible for the area. Your mayday on 16 reaches SENAN and any ship nearby. Register your beacon with the flag state that issued it. Leave a float plan with someone ashore who knows these numbers.
Which guide for which emergency
- Person overboard: Pacific currents and recovery.
- Fire and flooding: extinguishers, bilge pumps, rainy-season water.
- Groundings and collisions: reefs, tides and floating logs.
- Towing and salvage: who tows in Panama and what to sign.
- Reporting an accident: the AMP, SENAN and police.
- Medical emergencies: hospitals, evacuation, divers.
- Lightning and squalls: the real weather risk.
- Documenting a charter incident: evidence that holds up.
Your practical starting checklist
- Save 911, the AMP 24-hour call centre and the Capitán de Puerto in every phone aboard.
- Print the numbers table and tape it by the helm and the VHF.
- Keep a watch on VHF 16, and on VHF 12 in canal waters.
- Practise the five-fact mayday in Spanish and English with your crew.
- Register your DSC radio and beacon, and connect the GPS to the radio.
- Leave a float plan with someone ashore before every trip.
Frequently asked questions
What number do I call for a boating emergency in Panama?
Dial 911 and call mayday on VHF channel 16 at the same time. SUME 911 passes the call to SENAN, firefighters or an ambulance.
Does Panama have a coast guard?
Not by that name. SENAN does search and rescue and enforcement at sea, the AMP licenses boats and investigates accidents, and the ACP controls canal waters.
What VHF channel does the Panama Canal use?
The ACP's Flamenco (Pacific) and Cristóbal (Caribbean) Signal Stations work VHF 12. Small craft in canal waters must monitor 12 and 16.
Is there an MRCC phone number for Panama?
We could not confirm one on an official Panamanian page. Use VHF 16, DSC, 911 or your EPIRB. Each reaches the rescue authorities.
¿A quién llamo en una emergencia marítima en Panamá?
Llame al 911 y haga una llamada de socorro por el canal 16 de VHF. El SENAN atiende la búsqueda y rescate en el mar. En aguas del Canal, contacte a la estación de señales de Flamenco o Cristóbal por el canal 12.
En español: emergencia marítima en Panamá
En una emergencia en el mar, llame al 911 y transmita mayday por el canal 16 de VHF. Dé el nombre de la embarcación, su posición, qué está pasando y cuántas personas hay a bordo. El SENAN realiza la búsqueda y rescate. La Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (AMP) atiende accidentes y detenciones en sus líneas de Segumar (501-5350, 501-5348 y 501-5349) y tiene un call center 24/7 (501-5358, 501-5362 y 501-5361). El Capitán de Puerto atiende 24/7 en el 232-7734. En aguas del Canal, la ACP controla el tráfico por el canal 12 desde las estaciones de señales de Flamenco y Cristóbal. Verifique los números en la página oficial de la AMP antes de zarpar.
The next question to answer
All Panama emergency guides. Read Emergencies and who to call.
Where each agency sits. Read Marine offices and contacts in Panama City.
Radios and beacons that call for help. Read VHF, DSC and EPIRB in Panama.
Same topic in Florida: coming from the US? Compare Preparing for Medical Emergencies Aboard.
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.
- AMP: Líneas de emergencia (call centre, Capitán de Puerto, Segumar, spill lines) ↗
- Ley 44 de 2007, Sistema Único de Manejo de Emergencias 9-1-1 (Gaceta Oficial 25911; text via Justia) ↗
- ACP: Notice to Shipping N-11-2026, small craft in canal waters (VHF 12 and 16, contact numbers) ↗
- ACP Maritime Operations Manual, Section 6: Communications (2018) ↗
- SINAPROC: COEN press note, Operativo Carnaval 2024 (police 104, AMP safety equipment) ↗