About Us

A PANAMANIAN RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATION

PANAMA MARITIME DOCUMENTATION SERVICES

Founded in 1989, Panama Maritime Documentation Services (PMDS Class) is the leading Recognized Organization and Recognized Security Organization (RO/RSO), providing classification, statutory services and certification to the international maritime community.

Until 2010, PMDS Class was presided by the late Dr. Hugo Torrijos Richa, senior maritime lawyer, who for more than 10 years served as General Director of the former Panama’s Directorate of Consular Maritime Affairs, former Treasury Minister, known today as part of the Panama Maritime Authority. Dr. Torrijos also served our country as Permanent Representative of Panama to the International Maritime Organization for many years and is recognized as “principal architect of modern Panamanian shipping” for his priceless dedication and contribution to the Panamanian flag by setting the way to position Panama as the world’s number one Flag State.

Nowadays, under the leadership of CEO Magali de Torrijos and qualified technical and operational team, PMDS Class have been growing according to the globalization of the international maritime market, developing several projects which include the recognition of main Maritime Administrations offering alternatives to its customers from different geographic areas, where more than 100 exclusive surveyors are located.

As a leading ship classification society, we are also recognized as a highly reliable, impartial, third party assessment organization by ship-owners, shipyards, maritime insurers, and port state control agencies around the world.

PMDS Class have developed and implemented a Quality Management System, which have been certified under the ISO 9001: 2015 Standard requirements.

Description
Mission
Vision

Provide Class & Statutory Certification Services to our customers, in compliance with the international and national regulations, as well as others as per customers’ requirements; with technical and supporting staff duly qualified and a Quality Management System that guarantee the continual improvement of its processes, including the commitment with the safety of the human life at sea and pollution prevention.

PMDS Class is an organization that provide class and statutory certification services through qualified surveyors/auditors in the main maritime ports worldwide.
PMDS Class have a commitment with the Principle of safety of human life at sea, as well as the pollution prevention.
The PMDS Class Technical and supporting staff is duly qualified, in order to guarantee the compliance with the international and national requirements and other requirements from customers or interested parties.
PMDS Class have representative offices located in strategic ports to provide services as per our customers’ needs and expectations.

Be consolidated as Class and Recognized Organization that provide integrated class and statutory certification services to ships and companies in the maritime market for the benefit of our customers and interested parties, with modern infrastructure and maintaining high level of quality and professionalism.

Description

Provide Class & Statutory Certification Services to our customers, in compliance with the international and national regulations, as well as others as per customers’ requirements; with technical and supporting staff duly qualified and a Quality Management System that guarantee the continual improvement of its processes, including the commitment with the safety of the human life at sea and pollution prevention.

Mission

PMDS Class is an organization that provide class and statutory certification services through qualified surveyors/auditors in the main maritime ports worldwide.
PMDS Class have a commitment with the Principle of safety of human life at sea, as well as the pollution prevention.
The PMDS Class Technical and supporting staff is duly qualified, in order to guarantee the compliance with the international and national requirements and other requirements from customers or interested parties.
PMDS Class have representative offices located in strategic ports to provide services as per our customers’ needs and expectations.

Vision

Be consolidated as Class and Recognized Organization that provide integrated class and statutory certification services to ships and companies in the maritime market for the benefit of our customers and interested parties, with modern infrastructure and maintaining high level of quality and professionalism.

PANAMA MARITIME DOCUMENTATION SERVICES INC. (PMDS Class) has been authorized by the following Flag Administrations to provide with class & statutory certification services. PMDS is active member of the most important maritime and national associations, contributing to the development of the Panamanian maritime sector.

Panama Maritime Authority

International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize

Mongolia Ship Registry

Maritime Safety Administration of the People´s Republic of China (MSA China) to act in China territory as Recognized Organization/Class

Ecuador Maritime Administration for Class

Dominica Maritime Registry, Inc. of Commonwealth of Dominica

Commonwealth of Comoros

International Association of Recognized Organizations

Panama Chamber of Shipping

Panama Chamber of Commerce

Sao Tomé and Príncipe International Ship Registry.

PANAMA MARITIME DOCUMENTATION SERVICES INC. (PMDS Class) maintain management, technical and supporting staff duly qualified and committed with the PMDS Quality Policy, to guarantee the compliance with the applicable international and national requirements, as well as requirements from our clients.

PMDS Class is supported with an infrastructure to organize and supervise the statutory and certification services.