Panama Canal: changes to the Marine Complementary Services Tariffs

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) issued advisory ADV-34-2022 on 1 January 2023, with changes to the Marine Complementary Services Tariffs.

The disruption fee is the most serious of these charges, but there are others. They include the previously free validation and approval of ship plans as well as fees for the Canal Port Captain's inspection. The daily surcharge per day of high demand, based on vessel dimensions, is another fee worth mentioning. The ACP will determine the days with the highest demand for reservations and add an extra 10% to the reservation fee on those days.

The advisory also states that a ship may be charged up to USD250,000.00 for vessel non-compliance affecting transit operations. Although not exhaustive, this list of Frequently Asked Questions contains the most comprehensive information about what may or may not warrant the charge. It is important to note that if a vessel is not compliant prior to entering the navigational channel, the charge could be USD65,000; however, if non-compliance is found after entry, the charge could be USD250,000.

Determining who is responsible for the invoice when a charge is imposed is a challenge as it could either be the agent’s charterer (our customer) or the owner (unknown to us). It makes sense to charge the Panama Canal guarantee to the owner for transits since cases of non-compliance are most frequently caused by circumstances beyond the control of the charterer, but the ACP has confirmed that they will send an invoice to the ship's transit agent, leaving the agent to pay the guarantee and reach out to the charterer or the owner to reimburse the payment made.

Alexei’s Personal Tip ?

Good ship maintenance for the operation of the vessel, with some areas of special interest to the ACP being the conditions of the bathrooms, air-conditioning of the bridge and windshield wipers, are some steps that you can take to mitigate or avoid fines. Other fees, such as the daily surcharge, are outside our control as this is determined by the ACP.

When there is a chance of 6 days delays or more, using swapping and substitution (alternative ways to minimise delays and transit congestion) remains an important tool for planning and making the most of your transit. It does have a cost, but with GAC Panama’s team of ship agency experts we can help you find the slots required to minimise the waiting time to 2-3 days.

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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].??

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