Re: COVID-19 – Panama Health Authorities report 14 confirmed cases of Coronavirus, including one deceased.
March 12, Panama Immigration Service (SNM) have suspended processing of Seamans entry Visas until further notice.
Irrespective of the seamen nationality – embarking or disembarking from any vessel has been suspended.
The above decision will directly impact crew changes, also technical services arranged by owners.
Health Authorities have also announced an immediate ban on passenger disembarkation from cruise ships.
Spare parts shipments and courier packages parcels arrival, processing and logistics services continue as normal, and have not yet been disrupted.
Panama Maritime Authority have announced, with immediate effect until further advised, they will not board any vessels.
Panama Canal Operations and surrounding ports (Balboa, Cristobal, Manzanillo, CCT, and PSA) continue operating without disruption.
Re: Canal Congestion – Panama Canal transit operations remaining in Booking Condition 1A with a reduced number of daily booking slots.
Waiting times for nonbooked vessels (vessels without transit reservation) remain high, resulting in high demand for booking slots and increased waiting times for nonbooked vessels.
Bookings are allocated to vessels with highest customer ranking. Two additional slots are available via the auction process.
Opening bid for Supers (>=91’ beam) is $35,000. Opening bid for Regulars (<=91’ beam) is $15,000
Waiting times for vessels without booking reservation:
| Northbound | Southbound | |
| Neopanamax (>=107ft beam) | 3 days | 3 days |
| Supers (>=91′ and < 106ft beam) | 10 days | 7 days |
| Regulars (<=91′ beam) | 7 days | 7 days |
Re: Neopanamax Locks Draft– effective March 30, 2020, the maximum authorized draft for vessels
transiting the Neopanamax locks will be 13.87 m (45.5 feet) Tropical Fresh Water (TFW).
Re: Panamax Locks Draft – Maximum transit draft in the Panamax locks remains unchanged at 12.04 meters (39 feet 6 inches) Tropical Fresh Water, deepest point of immersion.
For further information please contact us at:
Norton Lilly International (Panama) S.A.
Bldg. 3825 – Office 204
Howard – Panama-Pacifico
Panama, Rep. of Panama
Tel: (507) 304-4600
Fax: (507) 269-3926
Main email: operations@nortonlilly.com.pa (24 hours)
Management email: nortonadm@nortonlilly.com.pa (office hours)
Web: www.nortonlilly.com.pa
