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Panama Canal Authority News
Panama Canal to Increase Daily Transits to 27
In response to the current and projected level of Gatun Lake, the Panama Canal Authority has announced, through Notice to Shipping Lines No. A-08-2024, that it will increase the number of daily slots available in the Panamax locks.Two additional slots will be offered by auction for transit dates scheduled starting March 18, and one additional slot will be available for transits scheduled starting March 25.
Panama Updates its General Merchant Marine Law
The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) and Panama’s main maritime associations concluded the meetings for the revision of the General Merchant Marine Law, law 57 of August 6, 2008.A total of 188 articles were reviewed; 70 were modified; 10 were eliminated and more than 12 new articles were proposed, and all of them were approved in consensus. These amendments aim at improving the competitiveness of the…
CMA CGM Containership Breaks Panama Canal Cargo Capacity Record
Last month, CMA CGM’s Zephyr became the largest containership by cargo capacity to ever transit the Panama Canal.The Neopanamax containership Zephyr has a total capacity of 16,285 TEUs. After calling at the U.S. ports of New York and Savannah, the Zephyr sailed back southbound through the Canal, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, in route to Qingdao, China. On July 1, the vessel completed its return trip through the Expanded Canal’s Neopanamax Locks…
Panama Canal Extends Max Length, Increases Draft for Neopanamax Locks
The Panama Canal has increased the maximum allowable length for vessels transiting the Neopanamax Locks. Since May 21, the maximum length overall (LOA) for commercial and noncommercial vessels acceptable for regular transits of the Neopanamax Locks is 370.33 meters (1,215 feet), up from 367.28 meters (1,205 feet).The increase, which comes nearly five years after the canal's expansion, means that now 96.8% of the world’s fleet of containerships can transit the Panama Canal.
Panama Canal Secures Steady Draft
The Panama Canal has emerged from its fifth driest year in 70 equipped to ensure a competitive draft, and thus steady operations, after draft concerns led to the implementation of water-saving measures.Having an operational level of water and transit reliability in the second half of 2020 will be critical for the waterway as it advances its search for long-term water solutions and prepares for coronavirus-driven shifts in trade…
Ships to Face 30% Higher Costs at Panama
The Panama Canal will begin collecting a freshwater surcharge from ships using the waterway from 15th February, as part of actions to address a scarcity of rainfall…
First Woman Deputy Administrator at Panama Canal
Ilya Espino de Marotta, who played a lead role in the expansions of the Panama Canal took office on January 1 as the first woman deputy administrator of the…
Maritime History & the Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a strategic crossroads for maritime traffic, and is arguably one of the most important maritime developments in the past century. Here we take a deeper dive into the history behind that famous strip of waterway.The present canal, which saw its first vessel transits in 1914, along with possible alternatives through Nicaragua and Mexico, had actually been on the minds of merchants, explorers and military/political strategists since the Age of Exploration in early 1500’s.
Panama Canal Reports Record FY 2019 Tonnage
The Panama Canal has closed the 2019 fiscal year (FY19) with a record tonnage of 469 million Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS), a 6.2 percent increase compared to FY2018.With this figure, the waterway exceeds the 450.7 million PC/UMS tons projection for FY2019, as well as the record tonnage of 442 million PC/UMS tons registered in the previous fiscal year. These record-setting results reflect the Canal workforce's commitment to efficiency and ongoing investments in infrastructure…
Panama Canal Signs MoU with Rotterdam Port
The Panama Canal and the Port of Rotterdam signed a Memorandum Understanding (MOU) to promote international trade between Europe and the West Coast of South America.Through this agreement…
Dr. Ricaurte Takes Office as Panama Canal Administrator
Dr. Ricaurte Vásquez Morales was sworn-in during a ceremony held at the Panama Canal Administration Building in Panama City, becoming the fourth Panamanian Administrator…
Panama Canal: Advisory to Shipping
All Shipping Agents, Owners, and Operators advised as to Scheduled Culvert Maintenance at Gatun Locks.Beginning at 0600 hours on Monday, August 26, 2019, until 0600 hours on Friday, September 6, 2019 (10 days), the center wall culvert of Gatun Locks will be out of service for scheduled maintenance. During this culvert outage, both lanes will remain in service, but due to the slower filling and emptying of the chambers…
Fitch Affirms Panama Canal 'A' Investment Grade
For the fourth consecutive year, Fitch Ratings has affirmed the Panama Canal's 'A' investment grade rating with a stable outlook for its long-term issuer default…
Ships from Venezuela can still transit Panama Canal
The Panama Canal will allow vessels coming from Venezuela to transit the waterway provided they present the necessary paperwork, the canal authority's chief said on Wednesday, suggesting a new round of U.S. sanctions on the South American country may not make any difference to canal traffic.President Donald Trump's administration last week issued an executive order freezing all Venezuelan government assets in the United States. Shortly thereafter, U.S.
Panama Canal starts Speed Limits to Protect Whales
Starting August 1 and until November 30, 2019, the Panama Canal will promote the implementation of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) annual recommendations on speed and maritime transit aimed at protecting cetaceans, which include whales, dolphins and other large aquatic mammals, during their nearby seasonal migration.With these measures, ships should proceed at a speed of not more than 10 knots in specified areas.
ICS Weighs in on Proposed Panama Canal Tolls
Global Shipping Industry Delivers Comments to Official Consultation on Proposed Modifications to Panama Canal Tolls.The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is conducting a public consultation on a proposal to adjust the Panama Canal tolls for containerships, vehicle carriers, dry bulk carriers, tankers, chemical carriers, LPG and LNG vessels, passenger vessels and small vessels. The proposed new toll charges are anticipated to enter into effect on 1 January 2020…
Panama Canal, UN Join Forces on Climate Action
The Panama Canal and UN Environment signed a cooperation agreement today to join efforts on sustainable development and combatting climate change.Signed by the Administrator…
Panama Canal Hearing on Tolls Structure
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) held Tuesday a public hearing on the proposed modifications of its toll structure which culminated the period for receiving inquiries…
Panama Canal to Modify Tolls Structure
The Panama Canal published a proposal to modify its current tolls structure for the dry bulk, passenger, containership and vehicle carrier and RoRo segments, as well as tankers…
Panama Canal Closer to a Carbon Neutral Future
The Panama Canal Authority announced enhancements to its industry-leading Green Connection Environmental Recognition Program.The award-winning initiative encourages…
