The Panama Canal will modify the tolling structure and the tonnage rules for passenger ships as of February 1, as the interoceanic highway reported.
Namely, the modifications, which were approved by the Cabinet Council (ministers), eliminate the unit of charge based on berths and establish for all passenger ships the charge based on the capacity CP / SUAB (Universal Canal Vessel Tonnage System of Panama), said the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).
“Passenger ships are gradually returning to the interoceanic highway, and this modification aims to return to a standardized and simplified toll structure based on CP / UMS capacity,” said the administrator of the Panama Canal, Ricaurte Vásquez Morales.
To remind, this proposed modification was submitted to a formal 30-day consultation period that ended with a public hearing on October 5, to ensure that interested parties could send their comments for consideration.
“The approved modifications will come into force on February 1, 2022,” said the administration of the route through which 3.5% of world trade that moves by sea passes, according to official data.
Last November, the administrator Vásquez announced a Green Ship Classification system, which will include a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rate (GHG), under the commitment of “the urgency of climate change” of the interoceanic highway.
Vasquez said that the Panama Canal will take “one more step in its efforts, in recognition of the urgency of climate change and the need to accelerate industry and global climate action.”
The Panama Canal, which had an “exceptional” fiscal year 2021 with a record of 516.7 million tons of traffic, 8.7% more than the previous year and 10% above 2019, connects more than 140 routes maritime and 1,700 ports in 160 countries.
