Panama Canal increases daily Neopanamax vessel reservations to seven
The Panama Canal will increase the number of daily booking slots available for Neopanamax vessels from six to seven effective December 1, 2017, the company said in its press release.
With this measure, the Panama Canal is embracing the additional capacity allowed for by the new, larger locks. The seven daily booking slots for Neopanamax vessels are offered in addition to the 23 slots available each day for transit through the Panamax locks.
The additional slot is now available for ships transiting northbound (from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean), and was first offered beginning September 26 through a special competition in the first booking period in adherence to Panama Canal regulations.
Container vessels will have preference over other vessel types when allocating these additional slots. If no container vessels are interested, the slot will be awarded to any vessel that participated in the special competition, based on the Panama Canal Customer Ranking. After the special competition, the slots will be available to all vessels on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Neopanamax Locks can transit additional ships beyond the number of daily slots allotted. For example, the Expanded Canal transited a record 10 Neopanamax ships on November 17, and provides daily performance that far exceeds the three to four daily transits originally expected.
Dedicated to providing the utmost safety and efficiency for its customers, the Panama Canal will continue to explore ways to expand its capacity, working toward the goal of offering eight Neopanamax reservation slots by the end of the first quarter of 2018 and gradually implementing additional measures to increase capacity through 2019.
About the Panama Canal Authority
The Panama Canal is run by an autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors.
