Modification of Panama Canal Tolls Gets the Go-Ahead

The Cabinet Council of the Republic of Panama has officially approved a proposal to modify the Panama Canal tolls structure, following a recommendation from the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Board of Directors.

 The passage follows more than a year of informal consultations with representatives from various industry segments, an open call for comments, and a public hearing to solicit industry feedback on these changes.

 “After working in close cooperation with our partners in the maritime industry, I am pleased we will be able to provide a more bespoke pricing solution for our customers; one that recognizes their various needs and requests, while still appreciating the value and reliability provided by the route,” said Panama Canal Administrator/CEO Jorge L. Quijano.

Most segments will now be priced based upon different units of measurement to meet and align with the diverse traffic transiting the locks.

Tolls for dry bulkers will be based on deadweight tonnage capacity and metric tons of cargo. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessels’ tolls will be based on cubic meter, whereas tankers will be measured and priced on Panama Canal Universal measurement system (PC/UMS) based on tons and metric tons of cargo.

Containerships will continue to be measured and priced on TEUs and passenger vessel tolls will continue to be based on berths or PC/UMS. In addition, a new Intra Maritime Cluster segment has been created which includes local tourism vessels, marine bunkering and container transshipment vessels that do not compete with international trade.

 The tolls restructuring will also be implemented alongside a customer-loyalty program for the container segment, a first for the ACP. Frequent container customers will now receive premium prices, once a particular TEU volume is reached, the Canal Authority said in an announcement.

 “The ACP deeply values the relationships we share with our customers,” Quijano continued. “As we prepare for the completion of the Canal’s Expansion Program, we look forward to continuing to provide the same superior reliability, service and value to our customers, as well as now accommodate longer, wider ships and the new LNG segment.”

 The newly approved toll adjustments for all market segments are scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 2016, except for the new Intra Maritime Cluster Segment which go into effect with this approval.