New Panama

Rickmers Announces New Surcharges

Rickmers-Linie, the Hamburg-based global project liner and heavy lift specialist, has announced that it is implementing a Panama Canal Surcharge. It will also be implementing its Bill of Lading Documentation Fee of $55 for all US trades. This change is due to increased documentation requirements. All changes are effective December 1, 2002. The new Panama Canal Surcharge (PCS) has been necessitated by the toll increases imposed by the Panama Canal Authority for vessels passing through the Canal. All breakbulk and LCL cargo will be charged at $5.00 W/M (1000 kilos or 1 cubic metre); container cargo will be charged at $100 per container (regardless of size). This surcharge will be applied to all cargoes for which the scheduled routing is via the Panama Canal.

First Port in S. America Panamax Approved

Terminal de Contêineres de Paranaguá (TCP) first port in the region approved to allow unrestricted access of vessels of new Panama Canal’s maximum dimensions. Only weeks after having received permission to lift all restrictions to navigate at night, TCP - 3rd biggest Brazilian container port located in Paranagua has become the first port in the region to receive approval to allow unrestricted access of vessels featuring the new Panama Canal’s maximum dimensions of

India Approves Shipping Corp LNG Joint Venture

The Indian government on March 4 approved state-run Shipping Corporation of India Ltd.'s plan to take a 33.8 percent stake in a new Panama-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) transportation company. Shipping Corp. will invest $21 million in the firm, in which Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd., Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. would be other partners. The new company would transport LNG for India's state-run Petronet LNG Ltd

Kuzniecky Inaugurated as Head of Panama Canal Authority Board of Directors

Former Comptroller General Dani Ariel Kuzniecky Barsky officially assumed his new position as chairman of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Board of Directors at an inaugural ceremony conducted at the presidential palace last Monday. At the inauguration, Kuzniecky, who will concurrently hold the rank of Minister for Canal Affairs, stated that "one of my commitments will be to preserve the pride and international prestige that Panama has gained as a result of the ACP's management of the

Expansion Locks Bidding Process Moves Ahead

Representatives from some 60 companies and 18 countries participated in an informational meeting regarding the prequalification process for bidding on the design and construction contract of the new Panama Canal locks last Thursday. A total of 144 representatives from North, Central, and South American, Asian and European firms attended the meeting in a continuation of the process that started on August 27th, when the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) opened the prequalification period for

Panama Canal Celebrates 5 Years

Five years since the Panama Canal was handed over to the Panamanian people from the United States, the waterway is running better and safer than ever in its 90 years of operation. Beginning a new century under Panamanian stewardship, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has set and broken records, made significant improvements and invested in the equipment and infrastructure of the waterway. These accomplishments have helped the “All-Water Route” (the route from Asia to America’s East Coast via

Carter Honors Those Who Worked On, Defended Canal

In a prelude to the official transfer of control over the Panama Canal from the United States to Panama at noon on Dec. 31, former President Jimmy Carter honored 5,000 Americans who gave their lives building and defending the Panama Canal. It was Carter who set the withdrawal in motion in 1977 when he signed treaties relinquishing U.S. control of the famous waterway. But as the U.S. role in Panama slips into history, many in Panama lamented the absence of President Bill Clinton at this

Salazar Appointed as Chairman of the Board for Panama Canal Authority

President Mireya Moscoso of Panama made a final appointment for the post of Minister of State for Canal Affairs. Jerry Salazar, former director of the Panama Maritime Authority, has been appointed to the said position. Since the Canal Minister chairs the ACP board, Salazar will assume the Chairmanship of the Panama Canal Board of Directors. Salazar replaces Ricardo Martinelli, who resigned as Canal Affairs Minister in January.

Panama Container Traffic on the Rise

Container traffic handled by Panama ports rose 7.2 percent in 2000 to 1,359,640 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) said on Thursday. During 2000, cargo tonnage handled by Panamanian ports rose 7.0 percent over the year ago period to 20.65 million ton, provisional figures compiled by the AMP showed. Growth was led by the Manzanillo International Terminal (MIT), a container port on the Atlantic coast approaches to the Panama Canal, which shifted 1

Total Lubmarine to Supply New Panama Canal Power Plant

International marine lubricant supplier Total Lubmarine secured a contract to supply lubricating oil to the Miraflores power plant in the Panama Canal. This installation is located near the existing locks, a few miles from Panama City. Total Lubmarine’s innovative Talusia Universal lubricating oil will be used on two low-speed MAN B&W 12K80MC-S engines which will form part of the expansion of the Miraflores installation