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IME Marine Group

Marine surveys, inspections and certificates · IME

Marine chemist and gas-free inspections

IME is authorised by the Panama Maritime Authority as a Marine Chemist Company to issue hot work permits, confined space entry permits and gas-free certificates in Panamanian waters, ports and shipyards and in the waters of the Panama Canal. Its inspections follow NFPA 306 and NFPA 350.

Crew in breathing apparatus at the entrance to an enclosed space, watched by an inspector

Where we attend

Marine chemist work is attended in Panama: its ports, shipyards and anchorages, and the waters of the Panama Canal.

Find a service in your port

Service

When you need it

  1. 01

    Hot work is planned

    Welding or cutting in or near a tank or space that held fuel or flammable cargo needs the atmosphere tested and a permit first.

  2. 02

    Someone has to enter a confined space

    Tanks, voids and pump rooms are tested before entry and a permit is issued.

  3. 03

    A tank is cleaned, repaired or the vessel goes to the shipyard

    The yard, the repair contractor or the superintendent needs the gas-free certificate before work starts.

  4. 04

    The vessel repairs at anchor while waiting to transit

    Hot work at anchorage needs the Canal's prior authorisation, requested through the local agent.

Spaces and inspections

IME inspector in protective clothing and respirator testing the atmosphere inside a tank

01

Confined spaces

Pits, tanks, vaults and voids.

02

Enclosed spaces

Boiler rooms, engine rooms and pump rooms.

03

Hollow structures

Masts, rudders, skegs and pipelines.

04

Testing before hot work

Testing for flammable, combustible and toxic atmospheres; testing of spaces immediately dangerous to life or health, or that cannot be ventilated at first.

05

Inerting

Verification that spaces holding flammable or combustible materials are effectively inerted, approval of the inerting medium and supervision of its introduction.

06

Certificates and permits

Issue and posting of the certificates and permits, so the work goes ahead under controlled conditions with the hazards identified, measured and communicated.

To arrange it, send us

  1. 01The vessel's name and IMO number, or the shipyard
  2. 02Where she is: port, shipyard or anchorage
  3. 03The work planned: hot work, entry or both
  4. 04The spaces involved and what they last contained
  5. 05The date and time the work is to start

What you receive

The gas-free certificate or the permit, issued and posted on site, with the readings taken.

Response
We reply to every request within 24 to 48 hours at the latest.

Who provides it

International Marine Experts

International Marine Experts

Marine surveys, cargo inspections and marine chemist services.

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.

About IME

What backs it

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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
IME inspector working at a valve beside a tank top in a vessel's machinery space

Arrange a marine chemist inspection

Send the vessel or the yard, the spaces and when the work starts. The Panama office answers 24 hours a day.

Request assistance

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