The General Directorate of Merchant Marine (DGMM) of the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) has issued a warning to Panamanian-flagged vessels due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, highlighting the growing security risks for ships operating in the region. The advisory, issued through Maritime Notice MMN-04/2025, focuses on areas such as Iran, Israel, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz, where the ongoing conflict could directly affect vessels and their crews.

In response to the situation, the PMA urged vessels under the Panamanian flag to strengthen onboard security measures before entering these high-risk areas. Recommended actions include raising security levels, conducting updated threat assessments, maintaining constant bridge watch, closely monitoring communications, preventing the approach of small craft, and enforcing strict boarding controls.

The authority also referenced a separate advisory, MMN-03/2025, concerning the Port of Ras Isa in Yemen, where operational, legal, and security risks remain high due to intensifying hostilities and changes in U.S. sanctions policy. The PMA noted that on April 4, 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced it would not extend General License 25A. As a result, the delivery or discharge of petroleum products at ports controlled by the Houthi movement, including Ras Isa, may be considered material support to a designated terrorist organization under U.S. law.

According to the advisory, these sanctions could extend beyond vessels themselves to include owners, operators, insurers, and financiers. For that reason, the PMA strongly recommends that any vessel anchored near Ras Isa or planning to operate at ports under Houthi control carefully assess both the legal and security implications before proceeding, and seek guidance from specialized legal counsel.