Panama Canal Authority's transit date advancement policy

The Panama Canal Authority issued an advisory to shipping on the transit date advancement fee for all market segments.

The advisory was published on 7 May 2024.

The Panama Canal Authority has introduced a new policy allowing vessels to advance their transit dates by two days or more, subject to approval. This flexibility aims to enhance operational efficiency by better aligning transit schedules with vessel availability and canal capacity. However, there's a fee associated with this advancement, which is determined by factors such as the vessel's booking date and the overall operational landscape of the canal.

For full container vessels, there's a specific process outlined for requesting this advancement. They can submit their requests between specific hours, 10 to 2 days prior to their intended transit date. Priority is given to these vessels, particularly based on their booking date, port calls within the canal area, and their estimated time of arrival (ETA). In cases where multiple vessels request the same advancement date, the priority is determined by these factors, ensuring fair and efficient allocation of transit slots.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):