|
BOYD |
STEAMSHIP CORPORATION
AGENTS AT THE
PANAMA CANAL FOUNDED
IN 1909 |
Web: www.boydsteamship.com Email: operations@boydsteamship.com
PANAMA
CANAL NEWS
July 15th, 2007
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TENTATIVE
SCHEDULE OF LOCKS MAINTENANCE WORK FOR FY 2007. |
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MONTHLY CANAL OPERATION
SUMMARY – JUNE 2007 |
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LOCKS LANE OUTAGE AND PANAMA
CANAL AUTHORITY TRANSIT RESERVATION SYSTEM |
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TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF LOCKS
MAINTENANCE WORK FOR FY 2007.
MONTHLY
CANAL OPERATION SUMMARY – JUNE 2007
LOCKS LANE OUTAGE AND
PANAMA CANAL AUTHORITY TRANSIT RESERVATION SYSTEM
Beginning
Wednesday, July 11, 2007, at 0001 hours through Friday, July 20, 2007, at 2359
hours (10 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
centerwall close to Miter Gates 113 and 117.
In
addition, beginning Wednesday, July 11, 2007, at 0001 hours through Friday,
July 13, 2007, at 2359 hours (3 days), the EAST lane of Pedro Miguel Locks will
be out of service. Closing the East lane of Pedro Miguel Locks is necessary in
order to prepare for the dry chamber work to be performed on Miter Gates 50,
51, 62, and 63.
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 July 11, 2007 through 2359
hours on July 13, 2007, Condition 2 will be in effect;
• From 0001 hours on July 14, 2007 through 2359
hours on July 20, 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 July 8, 2007. The booking slot available through the Auction Process will
continue to be offered during this period.
The
Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Board of Directors and Advisory Board met in
Shanghai, China from June 11-12 to analyze the progress of the expansion
project and other major projects underway at the Panama Canal. The Advisory
Board plays an important role as the Panama Canal strives to best serve global
trade and commerce. China is the second largest user of the Panama Canal after
the United States.
ACP
Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta briefed the Advisory Board, composed
of business, maritime and trade experts, on key Canal issues, while the group
discussed strategy and current trends in the maritime and shipping industries.
The meeting was jointly presided over by Panamanian Minister for Canal Affairs
and ACP Board of Directors Chairman Dani Ariel Kuzniecky and Advisory Board
Chairman and former Secretary-General of the International Maritime
Organization William A. O'Neil.
During
the meeting, Mr. Alemán also briefed participants on the advances made for the
expansion project. Since the October 22, 2006 referendum that approved the
waterway's expansion, the ACP has assembled an experienced internal team to
manage the historic undertaking, hired legal and financial advisors, hosted
various conferences to communicate to potential contractors the essential
details of the project, and released preliminary tenders, such as the tender for
the program manager and the tender for the north Pacific channel dry
excavation. The expansion will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama
Canal through the construction of a new set of locks, which will double
capacity and allow traffic of larger ships.