PANAMA FLASH NEWSLETTER – August 19th , 2020
Ref. ADV29-2020
Advance Payment for Transit Reservation (Booking) fee.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the adverse effect it continues to have on the shipping industry, the Panama Canal Authority announces an extension of the temporary measures announced in Advisory to Shipping A-17-2020. Therefore, the suspension of the advance payment for transit reservation fees and other temporary measures implemented on May 4, 2020, will remain in effect until 0859 hours, Thursday, December 31, 2020.
Ref. ADV30-2020
Schedule Lane Outage at Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks
Beginning at 0001 hours on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, until 1000 hours on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 (34 hours), the West Lane of Miraflores Locks will be out of service for scheduled miter gate maintenance. Concurrently, the West Lane of Pedro Miguel Locks will be out of service for 12 hours in order to perform repairs to the northwest tire fender.
As a result, and in accordance with the rules governing the Transit Reservation System (NT Notice to Shipping No. N-7-2020), Condition 2 for the Panamax locks will be in effect from Tuesday, August 25, 2020, until Wednesday, August 26, 2020.
The Panama Canal is currently experiencing transit delays for vessels without booking.
The current waiting times (days) are indicated as follows:
| NEOS | SUPERS | REGULAR | PMAX PLUS | |
| NORTHBOUND | 4 | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| SOUTHBOUND | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
Neo: Over 107ft beam, Supers: 91ft to 106ft beam, Regulars: Less than 91ft beam, Panamax Plus : Supers with draft greater than 12.04m TFW.
The increase in waiting times is a result of several factors including high numbers of arrivals, daily transit vessel mix and vessel transit restrictions, reduction in the booking slots available, seasonal fog and inclement weather condition, as well as some operational delays.
As a result of the increased waiting times, we have noticed a higher demand for a limited number of booking slots as well as increased participation in the booking auction.
Demand for booking slots exceed the number of booking slot available with available slot being awarded to vessels with higher customer ranking.
As of today August 19th, Queue at 0001 hrs: 72 vessels were waiting for transits including: 16 Neopanamax, 0 Panamax Plus, 48 Supers, and 08 Regulars.
For the next few days, the ACP is expected to schedule more lockages in the daily schedule, i.e. for tomorrow August 20th there are 38 vessels scheduled for transit (22nb and 16sb) which should help to alleviate the queue of vessels waiting.
Norton Lilly Operations Team are available 24 hours to assist in answering any questions regarding booking slots available and the booking auction.
Please do not hesitate to contact us.
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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)
Management email: nortonadm@nortonlilly.com.pa (office hours)
