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Panama Canal Authority announces new booking conditionPanama Canal Authority announces new booking condition

In response to the unpredictable weather patterns and the need to ensure reliable and sustainable service, the authority aims to maintain a draught of 13.41m throughout the remainder of the current year and part of 2024, unless significant changes occur in weather conditions from current projections.

Michele Labrut, Americas Correspondent

August 14, 2023

1 Min Read
Panama Canal neopanamax locks
Panama Canal

Consistent with this draught, during this period, 32 vessels per day will be transiting the Canal, down from an average of 36 in normal circumstances.  Neopanamax transit capacity will remain largely unchanged at an average of 10 daily transits.

“Communication is a cornerstone of our relationship with customers. Considering changing circumstances, we maintain an open line of communication to keep our customers informed about booking slot availability,” said Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vasquez.

“We informed our customers that effective August 8, a new Booking Condition, namely Condition 3, came into effect for the utilisation of the Panamax locks. The standard offering of reservations comprises 23 booking slots for these locks. Under Condition 2, in scenarios involving a substantial reduction in capacity (such as lane closures for maintenance), the allocation is reduced to 16 booking slots. Meanwhile, under Condition 3, as currently being implemented, the booking slots are limited to 14 in total (comprising 10 slots for super-sized vessels and 4 slots for regular-sized vessels).  To this day, reservations for the Neopanamax locks remain unaffected.”

“This adjustment, effective until August 21, 2023, has been introduced to alleviate congestion for ships already in queue to transit or in route, who were unable to secure reservations beforehand,” said the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) in a statement.

Despite current limitations and measures taken, demand remains high, hence the increased waiting times.

 

About the Author

Michele Labrut

Americas Correspondent

Michèle Labrut is a long-time Panama resident, a journalist and correspondent, and has continuously covered the maritime sector of Central & Latin America.

Michèle first came to Panama as a press attaché to the French Embassy and then returned to the isthmus as a foreign correspondent in the 1980s.

Author of Seatrade Maritime's annual Panama Maritime Review magazine and of several books, Michèle also wrote for Time magazine, The Miami Herald, NBC News and the Economist Intelligence Unit. She has also collaborated in making several documentaries for the BBC and European and U.S. television networks.

Michèle's profession necessitates a profound knowledge of the country, but her acumen is not from necessity alone, but a genuine passion for Panama.

In 2012 she was awarded the Order of Merit (Knight grade) by the French Government for her services to international journalism and in 2021 the upgrade to Chevalier grade.

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