PANAMA FLASH! | Panama City – March 21ST, 2025
Modifications to the Transit Reservation (Booking) System (LOTSA)
The Panama Canal (ACP), in its commitment to provide an efficient and reliable service to its customers, has revised the terms and conditions of the LoTSA methodology in response to the valuable customer feedback and expressed needs. This revision aims to enhance the flexibility of LoTSA slots and facilitate the use of LoTSA slots, following two months of implementation. We have agreed to implement some changes which are detailed in the new version of the LoTSA terms and conditions document, available at the following link: https://pancanal.com/en/maritime-services/vessel-eta-and-transit-booking/
Based on customer recommendations, beginning April 27, 2025, the Canal will introduce an option for requesting swaps and substitutions among LoTSA slots customers. Consequently, a specialized LoTSA coordination service will be available daily to manage all inquiries regarding LoTSA slots. More details will be provided in a timely manner.
Additionally, the following modifications to the Transit Reservation (Booking) System will be implemented:
- LoTSA customers may be given priority over other customers during the assignment process of a Transit in Advancement (TIA).
Effective March 22, 2025, for booking dates beginning April 21, 2025.
- In case there are more than four LoTSA slots registered for any booking date, the additional slots to reach the maximum of six slots per booking date will be reduced from Booking Period 1A, 2 or 3, depending on the time the LoTSA slots are registered.
- If by the end of Booking Period 1A there are less than four LoTSA slots registered for any booking date, the unused slots will be added to Booking Period 2.
- From the maximum of four Neopanamax slots per direction that may be offered within all booking periods (including LoTSA slots but excluding Booking Period 3 and the conditioned slot)
- Whenever there are one or more slots available per direction within this limitation one slot per direction may be offered during the Booking Period 1A
- In case there is no slot available in one direction within the direction limitation, the two slots may be offered in the opposite direction.
- Vessels with HML=D will not be allowed to request a booking slot during Booking Period 1A.
Examples
Effective March 22, for booking dates beginning June 20, 2025.
- Any slot not allocated during the Special Booking Period for Neopanamax will be carried over to Booking Period 2.
- Any slot from the Special Booking Period that becomes available from 366 to 15 days prior to the booking date will be carried over to Period 2.
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)
