Panama Flash! – June 10th, 2024
ADV 19-2024 Increase in the Number of Neopanamax and Panamax Booking Slots, Draft Adjustment and Other Information Regarding the Transit Reservation System.
Based on the present and projected level of Gatun Lake, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announces an additional booking slot in the Neopanamax locks during Booking Period 1.A for booking dates from July 11, 2024, and will be offered at the opening of the 1.A Period Competition on June 11, 2024, increasing the total number of daily transits within Neopanamax and Panamax locks to 33.
Additionally, taking into consideration the positive effect of the rainy season in the Canal watershed and based on the present and projected level of Gatun Lake for the following weeks, the maximum authorized draft, effective June 15, 2024, for vessels transiting the Neopanamax locks will be 14.02 m (46.0 feet).
For booking dates from July 22, 2024, an additional booking slot in the Panamax locks will be offered to Supers during Booking Period 2 and will be offered at the opening of the 2nd Period Competition on July 8th, 2024, increasing the total number of daily transits within Neopanamax and Panamax locks to 34.
Therefore, for booking dates from July 11, 2024, the following rules will apply:
The “Neopanamax conditioned slot” will be offered during the 2nd booking period (regardless of direction) and may only be assigned to vessels with a High Mast Lighting (HML) designator “C” that meet the criteria and priority specified in Notice to Shipping N-7-2024.
Panamax Plus vessels may be allowed to participate in any auction offered during booking period 3 but will be limited to one (1) Panamax Plus vessel per transit date. The criteria that participating vessels must meet to be awarded the slot will include whether or not Panamax Plus vessels may participate in the auction and will be notified when the auction is published.
The following tables summarize the slot distribution per Booking Period for the Neopanamax and Panamax Locks:
Regarding Advisory to Shipping No. A-12-2024, the temporary priority in slot allocation given to passenger vessels during the competitions at the opening of Booking Period 1 in the Panamax locks for booking dates beginning October 1, 2024, will be extended until April 30, 2025.
Also, in reference to Advisory to Shipping No. A-13-2024, vessels that reserve for a date not identified as high demand but who accept an offer of a transit advancement to a day of high demand; the “high demand” surcharge will be applied as per Official Maritime Services Tariff in addition to the “transit date advancement” charge, once the transit advancement is provided.
For additional information, please reach out to our operators at operations@nortonlilly.com.pa
Norton Lilly International (Panama) S.A.
Bldg. 3825 – Office 204
Howard – Panama-Pacifico
Panama, Rep. of Panama
Tel: (507) 304-4600
Main email: operations@nortonlilly.com.pa (24 hours)
