The "toll" of the Panama Canal, the most expensive toll section in the world, is going up again!
On January 13, local time, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced new charging regulations and changed the booking system, which will reduce the number of available reserved seats and start charging freshwater surcharges and loading and unloading service fees.
The Panama Canal Authority detailed the new fees and changes to flight bookings in a statement posted on its website, which will take effect on February 15.

Under the regulations, the new freshwater surcharge of $ 10,000 will apply to all vessels passing the Panama Canal with a total length of more than 125 feet. In addition, depending on the water level of the Tong Lake at the time of transit, a floating fee of 1% to a maximum of 10% of the toll of the vessel will be charged, that is, if the water level is higher at that time, the percentage will be reduced.
According to analysis, this new regulation may have an impact on shipping companies, cargo owners, and freight forwarders. If such a cost is difficult for the shipping company to fully digest, it can only make the cargo owner bear the corresponding costs.
The ACP also stated that starting from February it will also reduce the number of daily reserved seats to 27, and requires that each ship must pay a reservation fee at least 48 hours before entering the canal. Super Panamax and so-called conventional ships, or ships with beams up to 90.99 feet, will be awarded through auctions three days before transit.
In addition, transit ships will also be charged a loading and unloading service fee, which is $ 5,000 for 91-foot beam vessels and $ 1,500 for vessels that are longer than 125 feet and less than 91-foot beams.
Why is the "toll fee" suddenly rising again!
It is reported that the purpose of the new regulations is to maintain the minimum water level of Panamax and Neopanamax locks while seeking to solve the water level problem of the Panama Canal in the long term.
Although extensive water-saving measures have been taken, the water level of the main water source of the Panama Canal, Gatun Lake, is still at an all-time low due to long-term rainfall.
According to data from the Authority, last year's rainfall in Panama was 20% below the historical average, making 2019 the fifth driest year in seventy years.
At the same time, the Canal Authority said that the water evaporation of the canal had increased by about 10% as the temperature increased by 0.5 to 1.5 degrees Celsius. In late July, the ACP increased the allowable draught through the ship by 1 foot to 45 feet, but this was still less than the normal 50 foot draught.
ACP said in a statement: "Without fees and operational changes, the water level of the canal is expected to drop to a level that will affect Panamax and Neopanamax. Together, the new measures will enable the Panama Canal to better predict passage The number and type of vessels on the waterway, so that water is allocated accordingly. "