A-35-2026

Clarification on consecutive booking dates for Panamax Locks in Panama Canal

ActiveReceived 16 Sept 2026, 00:00 UTC

Warning text

Panama Canal Authority Vice Presidency for Operations Advisory to Shipping No. A-35-2026 September 16, 2026. TO: All Shipping Agents, Owners, and Operators SUBJECT: Clarification on Consecutive Booking Dates Limitation in the Panamax Locks Across Different Booking Periods The Panama Canal Authority hereby clarifies the application of the booking eligibility rules related to consecutive booking dates in the Transit Reservation System for the Panamax Locks. This clarification is provided in connection with the provisions introduced through Advisory to Shipping No. A-28-2026 regarding booking slot eligibility across competitions and special competitions conducted in different booking periods. All other Panamax booking slot allocation rules published in Advisory to Shipping No. A- 28-2026 remain in effect and are not affected by this clarification. Effective immediately, the restriction on obtaining booking slots for consecutive transit dates shall not apply when the bookings are awarded through different booking periods. This clarification applies exclusively to Panamax Locks. Accordingly, a customer that has been awarded a booking slot for a transit date during Booking Period 1 may also participate in, and be awarded, a booking slot for the following transit date during Booking Period 2, subject to slot availability and compliance with all other applicable reservation process requirements. This clarification is intended to ensure a consistent interpretation of the current rules, avoid unintended restrictions and provide customers with greater clarity and predictability when planning multiple transits. Consequently, the consecutive booking date limitation shall apply only within the same booking period and shall not prevent customers from obtaining booking slots for consecutive transit dates when such slots are awarded through different booking periods. For any further inquiries regarding these rules, please contact: [email protected]. ORIGINAL SIGNED Boris Moreno Vásquez Vice President for Operations 3654-A (OP-I) V. 29/03/2023

Analysis

Active

Panama Canal Authority clarifies that the restriction on obtaining booking slots for consecutive transit dates does not apply when those slots are awarded through different booking periods. This clarification applies exclusively to the Panamax Locks and is effective immediately. All other Panamax booking slot allocation rules in Advisory to Shipping No. A-28-2026 remain in effect. For inquiries contact the Canal at the address provided.

Type: Port / channel notice · severity info
Location: Panama Canal, Panamax Locks
Validity: From 16 Sept 2026, 00:00 UTC
September 16, 2026. Effective immediately

Worked out automatically from the warning text on 30 Sept 2026, 17:51 UTC. It can be wrong: the official warning text is the authority.

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