According to Panama Canal Authority, based on the present and projected level of Gatun Lake, the Canal announced an increase in the number of daily slots in the Panamax Locks.
As explained, an additional slot will become available for supers in Booking Period 2 (14 days prior to transit date), and two additional slots will be offered through auction at the opening of Booking Period 3 (seven days prior to transit date).
Of the four daily slots to be auctioned, three slots will be offered to supers and one slot to regular vessels. If the auction for regular vessels closes without interested vessels, the slot may be auctioned to supers. The criteria that participating vessels must meet to be awarded the slot, including the groups per market segment announced in Advisory to Shipping A-51-2023, will be notified when the auction is published.
The following table summarizes the slot distribution that will remain in effect until further notice:
| VESSEL CATEGORY | SPECIAL PERIOD |
PERIOD 1 | PERIOD 1.A (30-15 DAYS) |
PERIOD 2 (14-8 DAYS) |
PERIOD 3 (AUCTIONS) (7-2 DAYS) |
TOTAL |
| Neopanamax | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Supers | 3 | 4 | N/A | 5 | 3 | 20 |
| Regulars | 2 | – | N/A | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 6 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 27 |
The additional slot offered in Booking Period 2 for supers will become available for transit dates beginning March 25, 2024. Applications for this additional slot will begin on March 11, 2024, at 0900 hours.
Additional auction slots will be offered starting on March 11, 2024, for transit dates beginning March 18, 2024. The ACP may also increase the number of slots offered through auction, depending on the Gatun Lake´s level projections.
