Same topic in Florida: coming from the US? Compare Safety & Wildlife.
Stay safe. Stay legal. Mind the water.
Safety, SENAN and sea life
on two coasts.
In Panama the boat that boards you belongs to SENAN (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval), the rules come from the AMP, and the whales, parks and reefs are watched by MiAmbiente and the ARAP. This hub covers inspections, emergencies, wildlife rules and the environmental habits that keep you out of trouble on two very different coasts.
THE SAFETY LOCKER PACIFIC TIDES + CARIBBEAN REEFS
01
THE SAFETY LOCKER
SENAN, AMP & the rules
What SENAN and AMP boardings check, required equipment, COLREGs and local no-go zones around Balboa and Colón, lights, VHF, float plans and boater education in Panama.
Panama City
Marine offices and contacts in Panama City
Where each agency sits in Panama City and what it does: AMP at Diablo Heights, ACP at Balboa, SENAN on the causeway, ATP on Avenida Balboa, Migración.
Panama City
Panama City boating zones, charts and official maps
Charts for Panama City: NGA 21603 Approaches to Balboa, NGA 21605, BA 1929, ACP tide tables, plus the canal no-go zones and the Bahía de Panamá wetland.
Panama City
Bahía de Panamá boating guide: tides, channel, anchorages
Boating in Bahía de Panamá: anchorages, the canal channel and ship anchorages, 4–6 m tides, afternoon wind, the Ramsar wetland, whales Jul–Oct, SENAN.
Panama City
Boating around the Balboa canal entrance in a small boat
Small-boat rules at the Pacific canal entrance: keep out of the fairway, call Flamenco Signal on VHF 12 to cross, never go north of the bridge.
02
THE SAFETY LOCKER
Whales, parks & fishing rules
Humpback season (roughly June–October) with MiAmbiente distance rules, Coiba National Park permits, protected marine areas, ARAP fishing licences, turtles and dolphins, and reef and mangrove protection on both coasts.
Panama City
Las Perlas from Panama City: distance, fuel, anchorages
Amador to Contadora is about 35 nm. Carry fuel for the round trip plus 20%, leave early, pick anchorages by season; no reliable fuel dock in the islands.
Panama City
Taboga from Panama City: private boat or ferry?
Taboga is about 8 nm from Amador: 25 minutes by private boat or 30 on the Taboga Express or Calypso ferry. Anchoring, moorings, landing, swell, crowds.
03
THE SAFETY LOCKER
Emergencies & who to call
SENAN for rescue, SINAPROC and 911 ashore, the AMP for accident reports. Person overboard in strong tides, fire and flooding, groundings on reefs and rainy-season logs, towing, medical evacuation and lightning.
Panama City
Marine offices and contacts in Panama City
Where each agency sits in Panama City and what it does: AMP at Diablo Heights, ACP at Balboa, SENAN on the causeway, ATP on Avenida Balboa, Migración.
Panama City
Bahía de Panamá boating guide: tides, channel, anchorages
Boating in Bahía de Panamá: anchorages, the canal channel and ship anchorages, 4–6 m tides, afternoon wind, the Ramsar wetland, whales Jul–Oct, SENAN.
04
THE SAFETY LOCKER
Clean boating in Panama
Pump-out reality, fuelling without spills, reporting spills to the AMP and MiAmbiente, grey water and trash, hull cleaning between oceans (the canal cares about invasive species), and seasonal debris.