Panama Canal issued information on the disruption charge

The Panama Canal Authority has issued additional information regarding the disruption charge for harbor movements.

This Advisory To Shipping (No. A-23-2023) was issued on 1 June 2023.

Effective 1 July 2023 the disruption charge will be applied to vessels in harbor movements that have deficiencies while navigating the Panama Canal's channel.

The charge will be categorized as low or high, depending on the deficiency type and vessel location at the time of detection.

Deficiencies include missing or faulty equipment, compliance issues, propulsion problems, cargo obstruction, and more.

This is not an exhaustive list, and other deficiencies may also incur the charge.

To avoid the disruption charge, known deficiencies must be reported before the vessel's arrival via the Panama Maritime Single Window (VUMPA) in the vessel's visit itinerary.

Vessels detected with deficiencies in the channel have 30 minutes to correct them.

The disruption charge is in addition to other applicable maritime service charges.

For dead tows and dead ships involved in harbor movements before transit, only the disruption charge for transit will apply based on their dimensions.

A "dead tow" lacks propulsion, while a "dead ship" has non-functional propulsion during transit or port maneuvers.

Find the tariffs, vessel deficiency matrix, and FAQs at: https://pancanal.com/en/maritime-services/maritime-tariff/.