Booking System

Panama Canal Authority offers a determined number of slots through various booking periods, with an emphasis on their preference system.

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Most recently, the slot(s) offered through the auction process have become of significant interest, particularly in times of congestion. The slot(s) is announced 3-2 days prior to the desired transit date.

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The canal booking system is very complicated hence we encourage customers to contact us for guidance and recommendations in a timely fashion.

The request for transit reservation (booking) is done electronically through online applications on a "no cure - no pay basis".

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The specific daily order of transit for booked vessels is determined by the Canal Authorities and does not follow a priority of either request or arrival time.
 

A vessel booked for transit will be considered to have transited the Canal on its reserved transit date if the vessel arrives at the first set of locks at either canal terminal prior 2400 hours that day and her In-Transit Time (ITT) is 18 hours or less, with exception of one category vessel classified as Panamax Plus which ITT is 36 hours.

Booked vessels that do not comply with the established arrival deadline within its category, or that are not ready to proceed at the time of fixed transit will forfeit the booking fee and lose the booked transit.

If a vessel forfeited a booked transit, canal authorities will place the vessel in the queue of those vessels waiting for canal transit based on actual arrival time.

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• Booking Regulations

• Available Booking Slots

• Transit Time Projections

• Customer Ranking

• Auctions