A-30-2026
Panama Canal modifies transit reservation (booking) rules, effective immediately
InformationalReceived 25 Aug 2026, 00:00 UTC
Warning text
Panama Canal Authority Vice Presidency for Operations
Advisory to Shipping No. A-30-2026
August 25, 2026
TO : All Shipping Agents, Owners, and Operators SUBJECT : Modifications to the Transit Reservation (Booking) System
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announces modifications to the Transit Reservation (Booking) System to provide greater clarity regarding existing rules and requirements. These revisions will prevent misunderstandings and unintended interpretations that could affect the transparency, consistency, and overall effectiveness of the booking process. Therefore, effective immediately, the following changes will be implemented: The paragraph in the Article 22, section “6. Booking Period 1A for Neopanamax Vessels” on page 6 of Notice to Shipping N07: “Priority will also be given to full container vessels when assigning slots carried over from Period 1 and slots that are cancelled or become available due to other reasons” will be replaced by the following paragraph “Slots that are cancelled or become available due to any reason will be allocated through a Special Competition in the following priority order, based on customer ranking: LNG, LPG, Car Carrier/RoRo and Full Containers” The paragraph in the Article 22, section “12. Last Minute Transit Reservation” on page 11 of Notice to Shipping N07, regarding the requirements vessels must comply to be offered a Last Minute Transit Reservation: “Vessels that have tried to obtain a booking slot during any booking period and through an auction for a transit date; or” will be replaced by the following paragraph “Vessels that have tried to obtain a booking slot during any booking period by participating in a Tiebreaker or Special competition and through an auction for a transit date; or”
In the Advisory ADV-28-2026, the following paragraph “Customers that have already been awarded booking slots in previous periods, including Long Term Slot Allocation (LoTSA) and Net Zero for the same booking date, will not be allowed to obtain a slot during current competition, unless there are no additional competitors” will be replaced by the following paragraph: “Customers that have already been awarded booking slots in previous periods, through competition, a first come first served slot allocation option that becomes available upon the conclusion of the competition, Long Term Slot Allocation (LoTSA) or Net Zero for the same booking date, will not be allowed to obtain a slot during current competition, unless there are no additional competitors.” Additionally, in the same Advisory, “Customers that have previously been awarded booking slots on the previous booking date, including LoTSA and Net Zero, will not be allowed to obtain a slot during the following booking date competition, unless there are no additional competitors”, will be replaced by the following paragraph: “Customers that have previously been awarded booking slots on any booking date through competition, a first come first served slot allocation option that becomes available upon the 3654-A (OP-I) V. 29/03/2023
3654-A (OP-I) V. 29/03/2023
OP, August 25, 2026 Subject: Modifications to the Transit Reservation (Booking) System
conclusion of the competition, LoTSA or Net Zero, will not be allowed to obtain a slot during the previous or following booking date competition, unless there are no additional competitors.”
Furthermore, for a NetZero slot, Swaps are permitted only between vessels that meet the same eligibility criteria used for the original slot allocation, including the same PCUMS tonnage. In contrast, for a Substitution, the vessel receiving the slot may have a PCUMS tonnage equal to or greater than that of the vessel originally allocated the slot.
For any further inquiries regarding these rules, please contact: [email protected].
ORIGINAL SIGNED Boris Moreno Vásquez Vice President for Operations
Analysis
InformationalThe Panama Canal Authority has revised parts of the Transit Reservation (Booking) System effective immediately. Changes include a new priority order for allocation of cancelled or newly available slots (LNG, LPG, Car Carrier/RoRo, Full Containers), clarified eligibility for Last Minute Transit Reservations and competition rules for customers with previously awarded slots. Rules for NetZero slot swaps and substitutions are also clarified. For inquiries contact [email protected].
- Type
- Other · severity info
- Location
- Panama Canal
- Validity
- From 25 Aug 2026, 00:00 UTC
August 25, 2026 - effective immediately
Worked out automatically from the warning text on 30 Sept 2026, 17:58 UTC. It can be wrong: the official warning text is the authority.
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