Panama applies the international collision regulations, the COLREGs, in all its waters. It adopted them by Ley 7 of 1978, and the AMP enforces them. On top of them sit the ACP's rules for Canal waters, MiAmbiente's whale rules, municipal beach rules and a handful of no-go zones. Panama has no national numeric speed limit for recreational boats.
The COLREGs are the rulebook
Panama adopted the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea by Ley 7 of 9 November 1978. The AMP applies them in Panama's jurisdictional waters; its pilotage regulation, Resolution J.D. 02D-2003, says so directly. There is no separate Panamanian inland rulebook like the US Inland Rules, so the international rules apply from the Amador causeway to the Darién.
The rules that matter most on a day boat:
- Rule 5, lookout. Someone is always watching, by sight and by ear.
- Rule 6, safe speed. A speed at which you can stop or turn away in time, given traffic, visibility and the state of the sea.
- Rules 13 to 15. The overtaking boat keeps clear. In a head-on meeting, both alter to starboard. In a crossing, the boat that has the other on its starboard side gives way.
- Rule 9, narrow channels. A small boat must not impede a vessel that can navigate only inside the channel.
- Rule 18. A power-driven vessel keeps clear of a vessel restricted in its ability to manoeuvre, of a vessel engaged in fishing, and of sail.
Sound signals also follow the COLREGs. One short blast means I am altering to starboard, two short blasts mean I am altering to port, and five or more short blasts mean I do not understand your intentions. You will hear that last one from ships in the canal approaches if you get in the way. The detail is in navigation rules, lookout and safe speed. The international rules there are the same as in Panama.
Speed: what is written and what is expected
We found no national AMP rule setting a numeric speed limit, or a minimum distance from beaches or swimmers, for recreational boats. The written speed rules are narrower:
- Whales: under MiAmbiente Resolution DM-0144-2022, stay at least 250 m from whales and at no more than 4 knots in the observation zone, for 30 minutes at most. See whale-watching rules.
- Canal waters: ACP notice N-11-2026 bans any speed or wake that endangers safety. The ACP can revoke an operator's certificate or a craft's permit on the spot.
- Beaches: the municipality (alcaldía) or the provincial government can regulate beach use. Panamá Oeste's 2022 beach resolution, for example, bars anyone without an AMP licence from using a vessel.
In practice, idle speed is expected near swimmers, inside marina breakwaters, in mangrove channels and beside anchored boats. Rule 6 makes you answerable for your wake wherever you are.
No-go and take-care zones
| Zone | Rule |
|---|---|
| Canal fairway, lock approaches, Gaillard Cut, Miraflores Lake | Prohibited to small craft (ACP N-11); crossing the fairway only with prior approval |
| North of the Bridge of the Americas; south past buoys 3 and 6 in Limón Bay | Only with a Canal pilot or transit advisor aboard |
| Balboa and Cristóbal ship anchorages | Pass through under signal-station instructions; no anchoring, fishing or water sports |
| Port and terminal areas (Balboa, Rodman, Cristóbal, fuel terminals) | Keep outside buoyed limits |
| Protected areas (Coiba, Bahía de Panamá wetland, others) | MiAmbiente rules and permits; see protected marine areas |
| Marina concession waters | Idle speed; enter only if you are going in |
Both canal approaches are covered in small boats around the canal approaches, and Balboa in detail in the Balboa canal entrance guide.
Night running, weather and temporary restrictions
The AMP can restrict navigation for weather or for safety, and sometimes does so by season. During Carnaval 2020 it limited outboard boats in Bocas del Toro to 6:00–18:00, after incidents with passenger boats running at night. Yachts operated bareboat under Resolution J.D. 089-2020 may not navigate at night. Port captains also issue warnings in rough seas.
Even where no rule applies, night running near shore is risky. Fishing pangas, fish traps and floating logs after rain are often unlit; see lights and signals. Check the AMP's notices before a holiday weekend.
The skipper's own obligations
- Licence: the person at the helm of a Panamanian boat, including a foreign resident, needs an AMP licence for the boat's size and service. See recreational operator licence.
- Alcohol: AMP Resolution J.D. 053-2018 allows random alcohol and drug testing at ports, and the ACP bans impaired operation in Canal waters.
- Papers and gear aboard: see required safety equipment and SENAN and AMP boardings.
- Accidents: report them; see accident reporting.
Your practical starting checklist
- Learn COLREG Rules 5 to 19 before you take the helm in Panama.
- Give way to ships and tugs in any channel, whatever the rule says.
- Slow to idle near swimmers, marinas, mangroves and anchored boats.
- Mark the canal fairway, ship anchorages and protected areas on your chart.
- Ask the alcaldía about local beach and jet-ski zones before running close in.
- Check AMP notices before holiday weekends and in rough weather.
Frequently asked questions
Are there speed limits for boats in Panama?
We found no national numeric limit for recreational boats. COLREG Rule 6 requires a safe speed, the ACP bans dangerous speed or wake in Canal waters, and the whale rules cap speed at 4 knots in the observation zone.
Does Panama use the US Inland Rules?
No. Panama applies the international COLREGs in all its waters. They are the same as the US International Rules, so most Florida boaters will find nothing new.
Can I take my boat into the Panama Canal for a day trip?
No. Small craft are barred from the fairway, the lock approaches, Gaillard Cut and Miraflores Lake. North of the Bridge of the Americas you need a Canal pilot or advisor aboard, which means a booked transit.
Who has right of way, a ship or my boat?
In a channel, the ship, in practice and under Rule 9: a small boat must not impede a vessel that can only navigate inside the channel. Tugs, dredges and pilot boats working in the approaches are often restricted in their ability to manoeuvre, so keep clear of them too.
¿Cuáles son las reglas de navegación en Panamá?
Panamá aplica el Reglamento Internacional para Prevenir los Abordajes (COLREG), aprobado por la Ley 7 de 1978. Además rigen las normas de la ACP en aguas del Canal, las reglas de MiAmbiente para ballenas y las normas municipales en las playas.
En español: reglas de navegación en Panamá
En todas las aguas panameñas rige el COLREG (Reglamento Internacional para Prevenir los Abordajes, 1972), aprobado por la Ley 7 de 1978 y aplicado por la AMP. Lo esencial:
- mantener la vigilancia
- navegar a velocidad de seguridad
- ceder el paso según las reglas de cruce y alcance
- no estorbar a los buques en los canales
En aguas del Canal, la ACP prohíbe a las embarcaciones pequeñas navegar en el cauce, en las aproximaciones a las esclusas, en el Corte Culebra y en el lago Miraflores. Solo se puede cruzar el cauce con autorización previa y escuchando los canales 12 y 16. Cerca de ballenas, rige la Resolución DM-0144-2022: 250 m de distancia y un máximo de 4 nudos. Cerca de bañistas y en las marinas, navegue a velocidad mínima.
The next question to answer
The enforcement collection. Read SENAN, the AMP and the rules.
Balboa and Colón, ship traffic and signal stations. Read Small boats around the canal approaches.
What to show, and what you will see. Read Navigation lights and signals.
Same topic in Florida: coming from the US? Compare Lookout, Safe Speed and Navigation Rules.
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: Resolución 107-OMI-0199-DGMM (2018), citing Ley 7 of 9 Nov 1978 adopting COLREG 1972 (FAOLEX copy) ↗
- AMP: Resolución J.D. 02D-2003, practicaje, Art. 28 applying COLREGs (FAOLEX copy) ↗
- ACP: OP Notice to Shipping N-11-2026, small craft in Canal waters ↗
- IMO: COLREG Convention ↗
- Panamá América: AMP regula tránsito de embarcaciones fuera de borda en carnaval (secondary, press, Feb 2020) ↗
- Panamá América: Panamá Oeste beach-use resolution 035-2022 (secondary, press) ↗