Panama Canal Authority introduces a new booking condition, starting from November 1, 2023

The Panama Canal Authority on September 29, 2023, issued an advisory regarding the changes to the Transit Reservation System rules, due to the current water crisis in the Canal watershed.

Starting from November 1, 2023, a new booking condition, known as Booking Condition 5, will be introduced.

This new condition allows for a maximum of 30 booking slots, with 8 in the Neopanamax locks and 22 in the Panamax locks.

Additional rules to note:

1. Panamax plus vessels cannot transit in Neopanamax locks.
2. Reservations are not allowed between 365 and 91 days before the booking date during Period 1.
3. Canceled or released slots for these unavailable dates will open during Period 1, 90 days before the booking date.
4. Special Booking Period (730 to 366 days) is reserved for passenger vessels.
5. Booking Period 1 (90 to 31 days) in Neopanamax locks is for full container vessels only.
6. Period 3 slots in Neopanamax locks will be offered through auctions seven days before the booking date.
7. Slots carried over from Period 2 to Period 3 will also be auctioned.
8. Available slots during Period 3 will be auctioned between 7 and 2 days before the booking date.

In the Panamax locks, slot awards during each Booking Period (except Period 3) will be based on customer ranking.

The priority for full containers announced in Advisory to Shipping A-35-2023 will be suspended from November 1, 2023.

To assist vessels without prior bookings, Condition 3 will be in effect in the Panamax locks from October 4, 2023, to October 31, 2023.

Neopanamax vessels with slots in Period 1 for dates between January 31, 2024, and August 31, 2024, can request slot voiding between October 20, 2023, and October 26, 2023.

Released slots will open in Booking Period 1, 90 days before the booking date.

Link to the original document: Advisory To Shipping No. A-43-2023