Update on Panama Canal Transits

Created by doina. Last modified on 2007-05-10 15:53:00
Countries: Panama

David Wilson has sent us the following update on Panama Canal transits. He also mentioned that yachts arriving on the Caribbean side may now proceed directly to Shelter Bay marina (VHF channel 74) where they will be visited by a Panama Canal admeasurer.

At the moment, southbound transits (Caribbean to Pacific) start late in the day and the yachts anchor for the night in Gatun Lake. The course advisor (pilot) comes back in the morning and the transit is completed the second day. Northbound transits (Pacific to Caribbean) are started early in the morning with the intention of doing the transit in one day. Yachts that cannot make eight knots are unable to cross Gatun Lake in time to make it through the Gatun Locks before dark and will have to anchor for the night in the lake. In this case the yacht owner may be charged for a launch that needs to take off the advisor and bring him back the following day, a delay fee and also a mooring fee. Such charges are not imposed if a two day transit is decided beforehand by the Panama Canal Authority.

The fees for yachts up to 50 feet LOA are $600 plus a $850 buffer fee. The latter covers unforeseen costs and is normally returned within six weeks if no additional charges are due. Northbound yachts that had completed the one day transit in two days normally have to pay an additional $810. Such yachts that cannot complete the transit in one day must pay $320 for the launch fee, $440 for the delay of transit plus $50 moorage, a total of total $2260.

Larger yachts up to 80 feet pay a basic fee of $750. The basic fee for yachts up to 100 feet is $1100 and those up to 125 feet pay $1600.