March 26th, 20200The Panama Canal Authority has announced that it has adopted new measures to guarantee operations and prevent the further spread of the virus after Panama ordered a mandatory nationwide lockdown to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The canal has created teams with the necessary staffing levels to maintain the safe operation of the...
January 15th, 20202Acknowledging the climate crisis, the Panama Canal Authority is adding a $10,000 fresh water surcharge for all transits of vessels that are longer than 38.1 m, effective February 15. In addition, a variable fee ranging from a minimum of 1% to a maximum of 10% of the vessel’s toll will be applied. The percentage to be applied will...
September 9th, 20191The government of the Panama has officially approved the modification of the Panama Canal tolls structure, following a recommendation from the Panama Canal board of directors and a period of consultation with shipping line clients. The approved modifications include the tolls charged to neopanamax dry bulk vessels carrying iron ore,...
May 22nd, 20190With plenty of rain finally falling over the past week in Panama, the authorities have postponed a sixth draft restriction of 2019. The maximum authorised draft of 13.11 m for vessels transiting the new neopanamax locks and 11.73 m for vessels transiting the old panamax locks will become effective June 12 instead of May 28. The...
May 7th, 20190The unprecedented drought hitting Panama has forced authorities to make a sixth draft restriction change this year. Effective from May 28, ships transiting through the new neopanamax locks will have a maximum authorised draft of 13.11 m, shaving another 30 cm off from the last restriction issued at the end of last month. The latest...
May 1st, 20191Faced with an enormous drought brought about by El Nino, the Panama Canal Authority imposed yesterday further draft limits for vessels moving through its expanded locks. The new maximum authorised draft for vessels transiting the neopanamax locks is 13.41 m, nearly 2 m short of its original design draft. This is the fifth time this year...
April 17th, 20190The Panama Canal is set to receive its first 20-row across boxship transit. The 14,424 teu , which Evergreen has on charter, will head through the waterway on May 15, marking another milestone in the evolution of the enlarged canal. According to Alphaliner, the vessel features a 20-rowbeam of 51.20 m and an length overall of 369 m,...
February 19th, 20190Ricaurte Vasquez has been tapped to become the next Panama Canal administrator. He will take over from Jorge Quijano on September 4, who will be stepping down at the end of his hugely significant seven-year term, in which he helmed the expansion of the waterway, helping reshape global trade flows. Vasquez will become the fourth...
July 1st, 20180The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) said it will open its locks to allow more liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers to transit the inter-oceanic waterway. ACP said it will lift daylight and encounter restrictions on LNG ships, effective from October 1. Lifting daylight restrictions means LNG ships will be allowed to transit the locks...
June 15th, 20180The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced that it is increasing the maximum allowable draft for vessels transiting the Canal’s expanded locks, also known as the neopanamax locks, to 14.94 metres tropical fresh water (TFW). It follows recent rainfall in the Canal watershed that has significantly increased the levels of Gatun and...
