Panama Canal Reduces Vessel Transits for Maintenance Work

The Panama Canal has announced that it will be reducing the number of vessels transiting the canal each day due to maintenance work. Normally, an average of 36 vessels pass through the canal daily, but during this period, that number will be reduced to 32. However, the transit capacity for neopanamax vessels will remain the same, with an average of 10 daily transits. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has implemented a new booking condition, known as Condition 3, which limits the number of booking slots for the Panamax locks to 14 in total. This adjustment will be in effect until August 21, 2023, and is aimed at alleviating congestion for ships already in queue or in route. Despite these limitations, demand for transiting the canal remains high, resulting in increased waiting times for vessels.

The ACP emphasizes the importance of communication with customers and keeping them informed about booking slot availability. They have assured customers that reservations for the Neopanamax locks are unaffected by the changes. The reduction in vessel transits is necessary to accommodate maintenance work and reduce congestion for ships already in the queue. The ACP acknowledges that demand for transiting the canal remains high, which is why waiting times have increased. The new booking condition, Condition 3, will be in effect until August 21, 2023.

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