How many ships can transit the Panama Canal per day?

25 August 2021

Have you wondered why the Panama Canal transits more ships on certain days than others?

Given that the Panama Canal has a fixed, yet reachable, maximum physical capacity of 40 vessels, it begs the question – how many transits happen per day and why are they not transiting at full capacity?

The answer is two-fold. The first limiting factor is when the water storage for transit levels is reached. The current system of artificial lakes and dams do not permit the storage of any excess hydro capacity (rain) which leaves the authorities with no other option than to dump the water into the ocean when it reaches its maximum safety limits. The second limiting factor is the mix of vessels for the day. This variable is only partially controlled by the ACP (Panama Canal Authorities) through the booking slots that are awarded, but there remains a group of vessels that would fit when the mix allows it.

Alexei’s Personal Tip!

The best and ONLY way to be completely sure of the transit day is to book the transit for a specific date. Other than that, multiple variables must be considered to estimate, with a certain degree of certainty, the number of transits for the day and thus the position of a particular vessel in the line-up.

GAC Panama is well versed with the local Panamanian port authority rules and regulations regarding Panama Canal transits. Our management team is experienced in working on all the aspects of the Panama Canal and can provide you with expert assistance prior to your arrival, and when your vessel is ready to set sail.

For more information about how we can provide you with the support you need for a smooth transit, contact us at [email protected] or visit our page on www.gac.com/panama.

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with the latest news and developments in Panama.