Panamanian container ports decline

Container shipping companies are responding to the rising cost of using the Panama Canal by charging their customers additional fees.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has had to impose further restrictions on vessel transits as a result of the country’s driest October in 73 years. Since April, the ACP has been forced to cut the navigable draught in the canal and the number of daily transits because of the region’s drought and to ensure the safe passage of its customers’ ships.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) continues to implement measures to ensure that a sufficient supply of fresh water is available in the lakes and reservoirs for both the country’s population and the locks in the canal.

Increased vessels deployment in transpacific trades is stressing US port infrastructure even more; this is also reflected in Panamanian concerns

On Wednesday 15th May, the Panama Canal Authority completed a trial transit of Evergreen’s TRITON, the largest vessel in dimension and container cargo capacity to pass through the expanded canal since it opened in June 2016

Almost two years after the opening of the new locks on the expanded Panama Canal, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced that larger ships will be able to transit the artery. The authority has also increased the number of daily transit slots for Neo-Panamax class tonnage.