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Panama Canal Unveils New Long-Term Slot Allocation for Neopanamax Vessels

The Panama Canal made waves today with the announcement of a new Long-Term Slot Allocation (LoTSA) Method for Neopanamax vessels. Detailed in an Advisory to Shipping, this innovative approach to the Transit Booking System aims to enhance transit certainty and flexibility for canal clients.

Currently, the booking slots are made available daily, with a set anticipation period before the transit date. This can often leave shippers scrambling to secure their passage through the canal. The new LoTSA method revolutionizes this process by offering several transit booking slot packages for January of the following year, targeting different market segments. In simple terms, a single client can now secure multiple bookings in one transaction—imagine buying a season pass instead of a single ticket each time you want to attend a game.

These packages will include a specific number of slots available on a weekly or monthly basis throughout the year, catering to both northbound and southbound transits. The details and characteristics of these packages will be available on the canal’s website, pancanal.com, under the Booking Slot Projected Availability section. These slots will be awarded to the highest bidder through a sealed-bid auction process.

The auction for these slots will start with a base amount of $200,000 USD per slot. The structure of these bookings is divided into several periods:

  • Period 1: For bookings made 90 days before transit.
  • Period 1A: For bookings from 30 to 15 days before transit.
  • Period 2: For bookings between 14 and 8 days before transit.
  • Period 3: For bookings from 7 to 2 days before transit.

The LoTSA method adds another layer to these options, providing greater flexibility and certainty to clients planning their transits well in advance.

The first auction will be held on September 2, 2024, for booking dates starting from January 5, 2025, through January 3, 2026. This forward-thinking strategy underscores the Panama Canal’s commitment to adapting to the evolving needs of the maritime industry and ensuring that the canal remains a premier trade route.

With the introduction of this long-term booking method, the Panama Canal is set to improve operational efficiency and responsiveness, catering to the dynamic demands of global maritime logistics.

Autoridad del Canal de Panamá

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