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IME Marine Group

IME Marine Group is four maritime companies, headquartered in Panama since 2004.

International Marine Experts surveys vessels and cargo. Bierman Pautt & Associates handles ship registration and maritime law. Bright North Corp. administers vessel communications accounts. The International Seafarers Training Institute trains seafarers to STCW. Each company contracts in its own name; the Group connects them.

We provide independent maritime expertise and integrated services that help clients understand risk, protect their assets and make informed decisions.

Three IME surveyors in helmets and overalls on the deck of a tanker at anchor
A bulk carrier at anchor, her hull and lifeboat seen from the water
A surveyor on a vessel's upper deck beside the satellite and radio antennas
Seafarers in life jackets on a rescue boat drill at sea

Attending vessels where you operate

630
vessels attended in 2025
71
ports
100
appointed surveyors

Find a service in your port

Service

Credentials and authorisations

Each credential names the company that holds it, the body that issues it, its reference, its scope and its validity.

Independence

IME attends as an independent surveyor. Findings are recorded as they are, and reports are prepared to stand on their own before third parties. IME's surveys and Bierman Pautt's legal work are contracted, staffed and reported separately.

List updated on 15 October 2026.

  1. Accreditation

    ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation, Type A inspection body

    Symbol of the National Accreditation Council of Panama for inspection body OI-068
    Issued by
    Panama's National Accreditation Council (CNA)
    Reference
    DGNTI-COPANIT ISO/IEC 17020:2014, OI-068
    Scope
    Inspection of hazardous gases on ships (NFPA 306-2024) and in confined spaces (NFPA 350-2022).
    Validity
    Accredited since 1 March 2021
    Held byInternational Marine Experts

  2. Certification

    ISO 9001:2015 certification

    GCL International and UKAS ISO 9001 certification mark, registration 86Q15045
    Issued by
    GCL International, under UKAS accreditation
    Reference
    ISO 9001:2015, 86Q15045
    Scope
    Quality Management System against the provisions of ISO 9001:2015 International Standard.
    Validity
    Valid from 18 April 2025 to 18 April 2028
    Held byInternational Marine Experts

  3. Authorisation

    Marine Chemist Surveys, authorised by the Panama Maritime Authority

    Issued by
    Panama Maritime Authority
    Scope
    Gas-free certificates and hot-work and confined-space entry permits in Panamanian waters.
    Held byInternational Marine Experts

  4. Membership

    Listed surveyor for CESAM, DPS and TNM

    Issued by
    CESAM, DPS and TNM
    Scope
    IME is named on the surveyor panels of all three.
    Held byInternational Marine Experts

  5. Membership

    Member of the TIC Council

    Issued by
    TIC Council
    Scope
    The international association for the testing, inspection and certification industry.
    Held byInternational Marine Experts

  6. Authorisation

    Accounting authority and Point of Service Activation

    Issued by
    Panama Maritime Authority
    Scope
    Radio accounting authority (AAIC) and Point of Service Activation (PSA) for Inmarsat terminals.
    Held byBright North Corp.

  7. Recognition

    Recognised maritime training centre

    Issued by
    Panama Maritime Authority
    Reference
    Resolution DGGM-CFM-028-2025
    Scope
    Courses follow STCW 1978, as amended, the IMO model courses and Resolutions ADM 105-2021 and ADM 063-2024.
    Validity
    Valid to 31 December 2027
    Held byInternational Seafarers Training Institute

  8. Certification

    ISO 9001:2015 certification

    GCL International and UKAS ISO 9001 certification mark, registration 91Q21403
    Issued by
    GCL International, under UKAS accreditation
    Reference
    ISO 9001:2015, 91Q21403
    Scope
    Quality Management System against the provisions of ISO 9001:2015 International Standard.
    Validity
    Valid from 20 July 2025 to 20 July 2028
    Held byInternational Seafarers Training Institute

Our offices since 2004

  1. The Panama City skyline along the bay, its towers reflected in calm water

    2004

    Panama City

    Head office

  2. 2009

    Dubai

    Middle East Regional Office

    Downtown Dubai lit at night, the Burj Khalifa above the towers and highway lights
  3. The Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River in Shanghai, with the Oriental Pearl Tower

    2010

    Shanghai

    Far East Regional Office

  4. 2024

    Hai Phong

    Vietnam office

    Cargo cranes along a quay in the port of Hai Phong, lit at night
  5. The Ortaköy Mosque on the shore of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, the Bosphorus Bridge behind it

    2025

    Istanbul

    Black Sea Regional Office

The companies

  • International Marine Expertssince 2004

    Marine surveys, cargo inspections, casualty and claims work, marine chemist services and flag State, warranty and OVID inspections. Founded in Panama City in 2004. A network of marine engineers, naval architects, nautical surveyors, marine chemists and cargo specialists.

    About IME

  • Bierman Pautt & Associatessince 2006

    Maritime law firm in Panama City. Ship registration, crew endorsements and seafarer certification, corporate formation and management, and maritime legal advice and representation. Files before the Panama Maritime Authority.

    About Bierman Pautt

  • Bright North Corp.since 2011

    Maritime communications. Radio accounting authority: consolidates a vessel's communications charges from coast stations and providers into one monthly invoice, in one currency. Activates and deactivates Inmarsat terminals, and coordinates LRIT conformance tests with Fulcrum.

    About Bright North

  • International Seafarers Training Institutesince 2024

    Training centre in Panama City. Thirteen STCW courses, taught by serving and former maritime officers and firefighters, in person and, where approved, at a distance.

    About ISTI

When one vessel needs more than one company

  • A casualty.

    We attend, record the damage and preserve the evidence.

  • A new vessel under registration.

    We file the registration. We issue the accounting authority code the radio license requires and activates the Inmarsat terminal.

  • A crew joining.

    We train and certify the seafarers and process their endorsements.

  • A purchase or a charter.

    We survey the condition before the sale or the delivery and the bunkers on board.

How we work

  1. 01Independent professional judgement.
  2. 02Attendance when and where it was agreed.
  3. 03Integrity, ethics and confidentiality.
  4. 04Protection of life, property, cargo and the marine environment.
  5. 05Quality management and continuous improvement, under ISO 9001.

The people who run it

Who leads the Group, and who runs each office.

Group leadership

  • Portrait of Javier Bru Roncallo

    Javier Bru Roncallo

    Chief Executive Officer

    Panama City · English, Spanish, French

  • Portrait of Eloy Ernesto Collado Grimas

    Eloy Ernesto Collado Grimas

    General Manager

    Panama City · Spanish, English

Regional offices

  • Portrait of Zayaira Santos

    Zayaira Santos

    Branch Manager, Black Sea Regional Office, EURASIA

    Istanbul

  • Portrait of Hassan Deylam

    Hassan Deylam

    Manager, Middle East Regional Office

    Dubai

  • Portrait of Yoyo Wang

    Yoyo Wang

    Branch Manager, Far East Regional Office

    Shanghai · Mandarin, English, Japanese, Cantonese

  • Portrait of Pablo Calzada León

    Pablo Calzada León

    Technical Officer and Marine Surveyor

    Las Palmas · Spanish, English, French, German

Technical, quality and compliance

  • Portrait of Edward Velarde

    Edward Velarde

    Senior Marine Surveyor and Technical Manager

    Panama City · English, Spanish

  • Portrait of José Guillermo Stoute

    José Guillermo Stoute

    Strategic Trainer and Regulatory Compliance Manager

    Panama City

  • Portrait of Carmen Verónica Briceño Otero

    Carmen Verónica Briceño Otero

    Quality and Project Manager

    Panama City · Spanish, English, Portuguese

  • Portrait of Eloisa Montero Guisepitt

    Eloisa Montero Guisepitt

    Compliance Officer

    Panama City

  • Portrait of Doraleen Céspedes C.

    Doraleen Céspedes C.

    Legal Officer

    Panama City · Spanish, English

Management

  • Portrait of Silvia Fernández de Marucci

    Silvia Fernández de Marucci

    Business Development Manager

    Spanish, English, Italian

  • Portrait of María Gabriela Cedeño

    María Gabriela Cedeño

    Marketing Manager

    Panama City · Spanish, English, Italian

  • Portrait of Annette Del Carmen Harris Becerra

    Annette Del Carmen Harris Becerra

    Finance & Accounting Manager

    Panama City · Spanish, English

  • Portrait of Carol Xu

    Carol Xu

    Register Officer

    Shanghai · Chinese, English

The IME Marine Group head office in La Boca, Balboa: a white building with a glass front and the group's sign over the door

Contact the right office

Send the vessel, the port and the date. The request reaches our commercial team, who pass it to the office that covers your port.

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