With less than half the number of yachts going through the Panama Canal in 2021 in comparison to 2019, current waiting times for a transit date is just 2-3 days after a Canal inspection. Yacht Agent Erick Galvez reports on the current situation and what to expect if doing a transit this year.

Published 3 years ago

Erick Galvez of yachting agency Centenario & Co. gives an update on current transit times and operations for small vessels this season.

No congestion for yachts:

Currently Canal operations have no intention of stopping work, they never sleep!

The only congestion in the Panama Canal is for Merchant vessels and not for yachts under 125ft as they usually are in tandem with merchant vessels in the locks chamber or by themselves rafted.

Yachts will only have a backlog if there are a large number of arrivals, which is not the case this year.

During February in previous years, after the ARC rally arrival and transit, congestion was between 4-10 days for non-rally yachts.

Pre-transit inspections:

At the start of February the Canal Authorities announced inspections would only happen Monday through Friday, plus, additional documents would have to be submitted to program a canal inspection. They have also currently suspended inspections at Flamenco Marina on the Pacific side. Instead, they have to be done in the anchorage on the Pacific side.

We have submitted a letter of reconsideration due to the fact that should we have bad weather, the low freeboard of sailing yachts and the high freeboard of the canal launch will cause boarding difficulties. Using the marina for inspections avoids these types of problems. 

The diagram (right) shows a canal boarding facility as per canal regulations so you may have a view of things we have to do sometimes on the Pacific side to comply with the Canal Authorities.

Current waiting times:

We personally have a 60% decrease in customers going through the canal this year vs 2019.
There are yachts transiting but we estimate about 25 per month in the last couple of months.
Which means that the current waiting for a transit date is 2-3 days after a canal inspection.

Pre-transit process:

The current process that we must follow upon arrival of a yacht to the marina or anchorage is to make a quick Antigen test with a local Laboratory and results will be obtained in 3 hours.
Once we have the results we can then request the canal admeasurement, make the charge by credit card and we may request a transit date as soon as possible, or a fixed date.

Panama Covid restrictions:

We have been under a semi lockdown in the city (Panama City) during weekends and night hours, only to lower the numbers infected over Christmas. Currently it has decreased 70% (500-800 per day now). Airports, ports and borders remain open. San Blas and the Pacific Islands are now open too.

February 8th, restaurants, car wash and shoe stores re-opened. Restaurants close at 1930 and alcohol beverages are restricted. Beaches and rivers can be used from 0700 to 1700 hrs (no alcohol beverages). No more gender restriction.

From February 15th spas, sport fishing, local lottery, horse racing (no fans), museums, art academies, music, galleries will all re-open.

From February 20th there will be no more lockdown on Saturdays in the Panama City Province and Panama West province – therefore businesses will stay open.

Curfew will remain Monday to Saturday from 2100 hrs to 0400 hrs and on Sundays there is still a full lockdown.

From February 22nd gyms, casinos, and movie theaters will re-open.

From March 1st there will be no more lockdown on Sundays. Curfew will remain Mondays to Sundays from 2100 hrs to 0400 hrs.

Incoming Crew:

All incoming crew members/guests via Panama Airport (Tocumen International Airport-PTY) must arrive in Panama with a round trip ticket, have a Negative Covid-19 test (PCR or Antigen test) 48 hours or less prior to arriving in Panama.

All crew members arriving in Panama on board yachts are required to get an Antigen test done on board prior to getting authorization to go ashore or disembark.

Erick Galvez
Centenario & Co.S.A.
www.centenarioconsulting.com
Cellphone/whatsapp +507 6676-1376

Related Links:

• See Panama Biosecurity for full yachting protocols.
• Full details about the Panama Canal Transit, including fees, can be found in the procedures for a handline transit of the Panama Canal.

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The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of Noonsite.com or World Cruising Club.