Maersk switches liner service from Panama Canal to land bridge

Maersk issued the an advisory to customers using its northbound and southbound OC1 service, operating between Oceania and the Americas would no longer transit the Panama Canal and instead utilise a rail connection across the Central American country.

“Based on current and projected water levels in Gatun Lake, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has needed to make reductions to the amount and weight of vessels that can pass through the canal. Whilst we continue to work closely with the ACP, moderating and aligning our operations to fit the changes, we have made changes to services to ensure that our customers are impacted as minimally as possible,” Maersk said.

While the ACP increased the number of transit slots to 24 daily from January this year pulling back from a plan to reduce the number of transits to just 18 daily from February, the number of daily transits is still well below the normal level of 36 and draught restrictions are also in place impacting the amount of cargo that can be carried. Late December to April is traditionally Panama’s dry season which could result in further restrictions.

“The vessels that utilised the Panama Canal before will now omit the Panama Canal and use a “land bridge” that utilises rail to transport cargo across the 80 km of Panama to the other side. This creates two separate loops, one Atlantic and one Pacific.”

Related:Panama Canal increases daily transits to 24 from 16 January

The use of a landbridge in Panama effectively breaks the OC1 service into two separate legs. Vessels transiting on the Pacific side of the service will turn at Balboa, Panama, dropping off cargo heading for Latin America and North America and picking up cargo heading for Australia and New Zealand.

For the Atlantic loop of the OC1 service vessels will turn at Manzanillo, Panama, dropping off cargo heading for Australia and New Zealand and picking up cargo heading for Latin and North America.

Listen to an episode of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast with Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vasquez Morales

As a result of the changes Maersk said the OC1 service would be omitting Cartagena in Colombia, which it said would be served by alternate vessels. The Danish shipping line said there would be no delays to northbound vessels calling at Philadelphia and Charleston, however, southbound vessels could “experience some delays.”

“We will continue to operate the PANZ service from the US West Coast to Oceania to provide coverage from both coasts. Additionally, we will connect ports in the Gulf to the OC1 service in similar ways to today,” Maersk added.

Related:Container lines expect greater Panama Canal disruption

“We remain in close contact with the Panama Canal Authority to ensure that we can give you timely updates.”