Increase in auction slots for Neopanamax vessels

17 Nov 2021 / Panama Canal, Panama

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) hereby announces a temporary modification in the transit reservation system rules for Neopanamax vessels regarding auction slots.

Effective November 16, 2021, the following modifications will apply:

  • Beginning at 0900 hours on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, and for every Tuesday thereafter until February 22, 2022, only one of the two regular slots that become available during Booking Period 2 will be made available to Neopanamax vessels transiting in the northbound direction. The other slot will be retained until the following Tuesday (7 days prior to booking date) and will be offered to Neopanamax vessels transiting in the southbound direction in the following manner:
    - Through the auction system, provided that there are no southbound slots still available from previous periods. If there are no participants during the auction, the slot will become available to any interested vessel in the southbound direction, on a first-come, first-served basis after the auction is closed.
    - Through the regular transit reservation system (7 days prior to transit date), to any interested vessel, if there are still southbound slots available from previous periods.

  • This new procedure will only apply on Tuesdays.

  • The base or initial amount for this auctioned slot is $93,500 USD.

With this modification, customers with lower customer ranking will have a greater opportunity to obtain one slot on a weekly basis.

The ACP may either modify or suspend this new procedure at any time due to operational considerations or other reasons.

(For information about operations in the Panama Canal. Contact GAC Panama at [email protected])

Source: Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Advisory to Shipping No. A-41-2021

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