Panama Canal Bridge Visibility Requirements

Vessels arriving at Panama Canal waters, must comply with the visibility requirements from the conning positions on the Bridge deck, in order to be granted safe passage through the canal and ensure the navigational safety of the vessel. Non-compliance with Panama Canal rules and regulations may subject vessels to unnecessary delays or denial of transit or even the imposition of fines. Non-compliant vessels will need to take further risk control measures such as additional pilots or tugs (decided on a case by case basis by the ACP).

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Panama Canal Change in Toll System

Last month we posted about the plans of the Panama Canal to increase toll chargers and the complaints expressed by the International Chamber of Shipping . Now the Panama Canal Authority’s Board of Directors, after carefully evaluating the observations and suggestions provided by interested parties, has considered it appropriate to adjust the original proposal to modify the tolls system of the Panama Canal.

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Complaints on Panama Canal Toll Charges

Plans to increase toll charges for the Panama Canal are ‘rushed, excessive and likely to cause further problems for shipping companies’ given the fragile state of economic recovery, say shipowners.

The International Chamber of Shipping has sent a strongly worded letter to the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) describing plans to increase tolls by up to 15 per cent as ‘simply unacceptable’.

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