|
BOYD |
STEAMSHIP CORPORATION
AGENTS AT THE
PANAMA CANAL FOUNDED
IN 1909 |
Web: www.boydsteamship.com Email: operations@boydsteamship.com
PANAMA CANAL NEWS
June 15, 2007
MONTHLY
CANAL OPERATION SUMMARY – MAY 2007
TENTATIVE
SCHEDULE OF LOCKS MAINTENANCE WORK FOR FY 2007.
GLOBAL
SEARCH IS ON FOR TOP-TIER FIRM TO ASSIST PANAMA CANAL WITH MANAGEMENT OF
EXPANSION
CANAL
REQUESTS PROPOSALS FOR THE EXPANSION PROGRAM MANAGER
The
Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced its search for an Expansion Program
Manager for the Canal expansion. The ACP is seeking a top-tier firm with a
solid reputation in program management and experience working on various
construction projects worldwide. The selected firm will assist the ACP in the
management of approximately 10 major contracts, interfacing with both design
and construction teams.
The ACP
Board of Directors approved the use of an integrated program management model,
wherein the Authority will designate tasks between ACP personnel and the
selected firm.
"The
selection of a reputable and experienced Program Manager is an important
component in the success of the waterway's expansion," said ACP
Engineering and Programs Management Director Jorge L. Quijano. "We are
looking to attract a firm with global reach and proven experience in providing
proactive solutions as we move forward with the program."
Expansion
will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the
construction of a new set of locks, thereby doubling its tonnage capacity and
allowing the passage of longer, wider and deeper draft vessels.
The
Program Manager will provide services that will include assisting the ACP in
the integrated oversight and effective control of the following projects: the
design and construction of the new Atlantic and Pacific Post-Panamax Locks;
dredging, to include widening and deepening of the Atlantic entrance channel;
dredging of the Pacific entrance channel; the dry excavation of the access
channel that connects Gaillard Cut to the new Pacific Locks; dredging of the
Gatun Lake channels; and the further deepening of Gaillard Cut, in addition to
other improvements to existing Canal structures.
LOCKS LANE OUTAGE AND
PANAMA CANAL AUTHORITY TRANSIT
RESERVATION SYSTEM
Beginning Wednesday, June 13, 2007, at 1200 hours
through Friday, June 22, 2007, at 1200 hours (9 days), restricted lockages will
be performed in the EAST lane of Miraflores Locks. Relay operations will be
conducted on the WEST lane. These restricted lockages are necessary in order to
perform tow track repairs on the sidewall close to Miter Gates 112 and 116.
In addition, beginning Sunday, June 17, 2007, at
0001 hours through Wednesday, June 20, 2007, at 2359 hours (4 days), the WEST
lane of Pedro Miguel Locks will be out of service. Closing the West lane of
Pedro Miguel Locks is necessary in order to perform repairs on the seals of
Miter Gate 68.
As a result of this work and pursuant to the rules
governing the Transit Reservation System (MR’s Notice to Shipping No.
N-7-2007), a reduction in the number of available booking slots will be in
effect during this period, as follows:
• From 0001 hours on June 13, 2007, through 2359
hours on June 16, 2007, Condition 1.a will be in effect;
• From 0001 hours on June 17, 2007, through 2359
hours on June 20, 2007, Condition 2 will be in effect;
• From 0001 hours on June 21, 2007, through 2359
hours on June 22, 2007, Condition 1.a will be in effect.
The number of slots per direction and restriction
during Condition 1.a will be limited as follows:
• No more than eight (8) supers may be booked for
transit in the southbound direction, and of these, no more than six (6) with
“full daylight-hour” restriction. Similarly, no more than seven (7) supers may
be booked for transit in the northbound direction, and of these, no more than five
(5) with “full daylight-hour” restriction.
• The total number of “full daylight-hour”
restricted supers shall not exceed eight (8) vessels per day.
• No more than four (4) regular vessels may be
booked for transit in the same direction.
• Of the six slots available for regular vessels,
no more than two (2) may be allocated to regular vessels transiting under
restrictions.
Applications for reserved transits under these
conditions will be received commencing 0900 hours June 10, 2007. The booking
slot available through the Auction Process will continue to be offered during
this nine day period.
PANAMA
CANAL TOLLS INCREASE AND ADMEASUREMENT RULES APROVED
On
February 2, 2007, the ACP announced its proposal to restructure the Panama
Canal’s pricing system and certain regulations in an effort to move toward a
charge that accurately reflects the commercial value of the route and the
service it provides. This proposal was made available to all interested parties
during a consultation period from February 2 to March 12, 2007, during which
the ACP received a total of 21 written submissions from individuals and groups.
Subsequent to this 30-day consultation period, the ACP conducted a public
hearing on March 14 where 14 representatives from shipping and government
agencies expressed their views.
On April
5, 2007, in response to industry requests, the proposal was slightly modified
and the implementation of the new charges, for certain segments, was postponed
until July 1, 2007. These segments include: general cargo, dry bulk, tankers
and vehicle carriers. As a result, the ACP reopened the consultation period to
provide the interested parties with an additional 15 days to present, in
writing, additional data, opinions, information, or arguments. A total of 10 written
submissions were received by the ACP from various individuals and groups.
On April
25, 2007, following a recommendation from the Board of Directors of the Panama
Canal Authority, the Cabinet Council of the Republic of Panama approved the
proposal to restructure the Panama Canal’s pricing system and certain
regulations.
Other
significant elements of the approved proposal include:
• Fully Loaded Displacement vs. Displacement at
Arrival Draft: The displacement charge will now be based on the maximum
displacement of the vessel instead of the arrival displacement. The use of a
parameter that is more readily available makes the assessment of tolls more
equitable and transparent.
• Administrative Changes: Some administrative
changes have been made, but these changes will have no economic impact
whatsoever. These revisions provide necessary linguistic and grammatical
clarifications to the document or reinsert missing words to processes and
procedures.
•
Passenger Vessels: Vessels whose gross tonnage (GRT) is above 30,000 and whose
PC/UMS tonnage divided by the maximum passenger capacity (PAX-ITC) ratio is
less than or equal to 33, shall pay
tolls on a per berth basis. If such ratio is greater than 33, then tolls shall
be paid on the basis of the vessel’s PC/UMS tonnage. Vessels with a gross
tonnage (GRT) below or equal to 30,000 gross tons (GRT) will continue under the
Canal tonnage tolls systems paying on the basis of their PC/UMS tonnage.
“With the new pricing system, the Canal is charging
its customers a price closer to the value of services provided. We reached this
decision through an open and transparent process, providing the industry with
multiple opportunities to comment. The new system, approved by the Cabinet
Council, reflects this open dialogue, incorporating several of the requests we
received from the industry over the past few months,” said ACP
Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta following the Cabinet Council’s
decision.
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PANAMA CANAL TOLLS IN US DOLLAR |
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|
Market Segment |
Present Tolls |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
||||||||||||
|
TEU Toll |
||||||||||||||||
|
Full Containers |
Laden |
49.00 |
May 1/ |
54.00 |
May |
63.00 |
May |
72.00 |
||||||||
|
Ballast |
39.20 |
43.20 |
50.40 |
57.60 |
||||||||||||
|
On-Deck Container 2/ |
Laden |
49.00 |
May 1/ |
54.00 |
May |
63.00 |
May |
72.00 |
||||||||
|
Toll per berth |
||||||||||||||||
|
Passenger Vessels 3/ |
Laden |
N/A |
October |
100.00 |
October |
115.00 |
October |
120.00 |
||||||||
|
Ballast |
80.00 |
92.00 |
96.00 |
|||||||||||||
|
Tolls per PC/UMS Ton |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
1st |
2nd |
Rest |
Effective 1st of |
1st |
2nd |
Rest |
Effective 1st of |
1st |
2nd |
Rest |
Effective 1st of |
1st |
2nd |
Rest |
|
|
10K |
10K |
|
10K |
10K |
10K |
10K |
10K |
10K |
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|
General
Cargo |
Laden |
2.96 |
2.90 |
2.85 |
Jul |
3.3 |
3.2 |
3.14 |
May |
3.63 |
3.56 |
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