PANAMA FLASH! | Panama City – July 20th, 2026
We have been informed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) that, as part of its water-management strategy to ensure the safe, reliable, and sustainable operation of the Canal under current hydrological conditions and considering the potential development of an El Niño phenomenon over the watershed in the upcoming months, the ACP have implemented a temporary suspension of the Daily Auction in Period 3 for Regular and Super segments.
Accordingly, based on present and projected Gatun Lake levels for the upcoming weeks, the ACP announces that, effective July 25, 2026, and until further notice, the slot offered as Daily Auction at the opening of Period 3 in the standard booking system has been suspended
Notwithstanding the above, transit slots that become available during Period 3 for any reason (including cancellations or transit advancements), will continue to be offered through the auction process as Extraordinary Auctions, in accordance with applicable procedures.
Operation Impact
The suspension of the Daily Auctions means:
- Fewer opportunities to obtain booking slots.
- Increased competitions during Period 1 and Period 2, particularly for vessels with limited scheduling flexibility.
- Greater importance of securing reservations earlier in the booking cycle.
- Vessels without confirmed bookings may face greater challenges in obtaining a transit slot.
While the numerical reduction represents only approximately 5.6% of the Canal’s total daily capacity (2 out of 36 slots), the operational impact may be more significant for vessels that traditionally rely on Period 3 Daily Auctions as their primary booking strategy.
Operational Considerations
- Customers relying on Daily Auctions should review their booking strategy immediately.
- Demand is expected to shift towards earlier booking periods, potentially increasing competition and cutoff levels.
- Customers operating on tight port windows should allow additional contingency time when no confirmed booking is available.
- Depending on market demand, vessels may experience longer waiting periods before securing a transit slot.
Our Recommendations
We recommend customers consider the following actions:
- Plan booking earlier whenever operationally feasible.
- Participate in Booking Period 1 and Period 2 instead of relying on Daily Auctions.
- Review ETA planning to maximize booking eligibility.
- Maintain schedule flexibility where possible to accommodate alternative booking dates.
Our Team will continue to monitor the booking competitions and operational Developments and will provide updates as additional information becomes available.
Summary of Changes
Effective immediately:
Period 3 (Daily Auctions) have been suspended for both:
- Regular Segment
- Super Segment
As a result, The Canal’s daily booking capacity is reduced from:
- 36 vessels/day à 34 vessels/day
Extraordinary Auctions in Period 3 will continue to be offered, subject to cancellations and transit advancements.
No Changes have been announced to the Neopanamax booking system at this time.
For additional information, please reach out to our operators at operations@nortonlilly.com.pa.
Norton Lilly International (Panama) S.A.
Bldg. 3825 – Office 301-302
Howard – Panama Pacifico
Panama, Rep. of Panama
Tel: (507) 304-4600
Main email: operations@nortonlilly.com.pa (24 hours)
