Booked for transit

Means assignment in advance of a specific date for transit of a vessel through the Canal. Additional Cost applies.

Regular transit

Means movement through the Canal of a vessel that has not been booked for transit, on the date and time determined by the ACP.

Normal Periods

  • (1) First Period – 365 to 22 days prior to the requested transit date.
  • (2) Second Period – 21 to 4 days prior to the requested transit date.
  • (3) Third Period – 3 to 2 days prior to the requested transit date.

Important: On the opening day of each period customers must compete for available slots based on ranking established by the Authority. Agents can submit booking request on this period from 0900 hrs to 0930 hrs . If after competition there remaining slots, they are allocated to vessels on a «first come-first serve» basis

Vessel Passenger vessel 1st Booking Period 2nd Booking Period 3rd Booking Period
Neo Panamax more than 107 (32.62 m) in beam 1* 4* 3** nil
Supers: 91ft. (27.74m) in beam and over 3 4 3 5
Regulars: under 91ft. (27.74m) in beam 3 1 4
Total of 31 7 8 7 9

* Only one LNG vessel may transit per day in any direction, either booked or not.
* First Period slots offered for NeoPanamax: total of 4 are for Northbounds and 3 for Southbounds
** Container vessels have first option for 2nd period slots offered. If not taken then other Segments may be offered the slot

The booking fee is based on vessel dimensions, in accordance with the following table:

Categories (in feet) Any Booking Period
LOA ≤ 300’ $2,500
Beam <80’, LOA >300’ $5,500
80’ ≥ Beam < 91’, LOA >300’ $10,500
91’ ≤ Beam < 100’, LOA >300’ $18,500
Beam ≥ 100’, LOA < 900’ $25,000
Beam ≥ 100’, LOA ≥ 900’ $35,000
Beam > 107’ or LOA > 966’ $35,000

Arrival Times/Restricted Transits (Panamax)

Required arrival time for supers and regular vessels transiting under restrictions that are booked for transit, means the vessel must arrive at a Canal terminal by 0200 hours the day of transit.

Neo Panamax

Booked vessels will be required to arrive 22:00 hrs the day prior to to their Booked day. Neo Panamax LNG vessels will be required to arrive 03:30 hrs on their booked day.

Arrival Times/Unrestricted Transits (Regulars)

Required arrival time for regular vessels not transiting under restrictions that are booked for transit, means the vessel must arrive at a Canal terminal by 1400 hours the day of transit.

Booking Slot awarded thru Auction Process

An additional slot is available through an auction process during the 3rd period only, in any booking condition that may be present at the time. This slot will only be available once all the normal booking slots available for either supers or regulars, independent of each other, have been allocated.

For Further information please access the below link and click: «Panama Canal Transit Reservation System»