|
BOYD |
STEAMSHIP CORPORATION
AGENTS AT THE
PANAMA CANAL FOUNDED
IN 1909 |
Web: www.boydsteamship.com Email: operations@boydsteamship.com
PANAMA
CANAL NEWS
October 1st, 2007
PANAMA CANAL TRANSIT RESERVATION (BOOKING) SYSTEM
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APPLICABLE PRICING STRUCTURE BY DEFINITION OF VESSEL TYPES |
PANAMA CANAL TRANSIT
RESERVATION (BOOKING) SYSTEM
Reduction in the number of Booking Slots
Available for Regular Vessels.
The ninth booking slot, which has been available for regular vessels
since January 21, 2007, will be discontinued effective Monday, September 24,
2007.
Therefore,
the above mentioned booking slot will not be available beginning on the opening
of the 3rd booking period, Friday, September 21, 2007
APPLICABLE PRICING STRUCTURE BY DEFINITION OF
VESSEL TYPES
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) established a
market segmentation structure in 2002, based on ship types and cargo
characteristics, and a pricing system based on TEUs was introduced for
container vessels and other vessels with container-carrying capabilities in
2005. In May of 2007 toll differentiation based on market segments was
implemented. Ship types are assigned to
vessels on their first Canal transit based on criteria that considers both
original design and cargo carried. The criteria are consistent with
international standards and conventions and the ACP’s Admeasurement Unit is
responsible for assigning ship types.
This new pricing structure has resulted in
questions from customers regarding how vessels are categorized. In an effort to
respond to questions as well as clarify this issue, we have included
definitions of all vessel types used by the ACP to classify vessels. Following
are excerpts from the ACP market segment descriptions as they appear in Annex E
of the 2002 “Analysis and Rationale of
the Proposal to Change the Price Structure of the Panama Canal.”
This segment includes all vessels that transport
individual items, such as boxes, pieces of equipment and penalized cargo. This
segment is not considered time sensitive.
General Cargo (01)
A vessel designed to carry break-bulk general or
dry cargo. Built to transport individual items such as boxes, pieces of
equipment, and penalized cargo.
Any and all cargoes are loaded either in drums and
bales or on pallets, primarily nonrefrigerated. Such cargoes are put in general
holds with no specialization. This type of vessel will generally be multi-deck
with facilities for loading/discharging cargo.
Refrigerated Cargo Segment
This segment requires timely transit but carries
less valuable cargo. It includes specialized vessels known as reefers that
generally transport perishable cargo.
Refrigerated Cargo Carrying Vessels (“Reefers”)
(02).
A vessel whose cargo spaces are predominantly
designed for the transport of refrigerated cargo such as fruit, meat, and other
food products across the sea in a fresh and clean manner. Includes cargo
vessels with 80 % or more insulated cargo space. Excludes: Fishing vessels (16)
OP, September 20 , 2007 Subject: Applicable Pricing Structure by Definition of
Vessel Types 3
Dry Bulk Carriers Segment
This segment is largely price-driven due the
relatively large volume and low value of the cargo transported. This segment
category includes vessels known as bulk carriers. The main commodities
transported in dry bulkers are grains and other agricultural commodities,
minerals, metals and ores, coal and coke, fertilizers and lumber products. This
segment includes Dry bulk carriers, Vehicle/Dry Bulk Carriers and Woodchip
carriers.
Dry Bulk Carrier (03).
A vessel designed to carry dry cargo in bulk such
as coal, iron ore, grain, sulphur, scrap metal, etc., in huge cavernous holds.
This type of vessel is normally single deck and machinery aft with topside
tanks capable of carrying a variety of self trimming cargoes. Includes: Ore
Carrier.
Vehicle/Dry Bulk Carrier (10).
A specialized vehicle carrier with decks that
recede to enable holds to carry bulk cargo. (Also to be classified here are
vehicle carriers using the platform system or flats. The vessels use the
container ship principle to stow platforms loaded with cars into cellular
holds. These platforms can also carry other cargoes such as lumber.) includes:
Elizabeth Bolten - Movable deck type, Troll Forest - Movable deck type, Pacific
(Johnson Line) - Platform system, Suecia (Johnson Line) - Platform system.
Woodchip Carrier (27).
Vessel designed for carrying wood chips only.
Tankers Segment
This segment is largely price-driven and shows
signs of certain time sensitivity. This segment includes vessels transporting
liquid cargoes, many of which are classified as hazardous materials such as
crude oil, oil products, chemicals and petrochemicals.
Tanker (04).
A single-deck vessel designed to carry liquid bulk
cargo in sealed, baffled and
vented-type holds or tanks. Excludes: Gas Carriers (12), Local Refinery Barges
(24). Includes: Crude oil Carriers, Bulk Petroleum Product Carriers, Bulk Wine
Carriers, Juice Carriers, Molasses Carriers, Liquid Chemical Carriers and
Tankers carrying grain.
Liquefied Gas Carrier (12)
A cargo ship constructed or adapted and used for
the carriage in bulk of any liquid gas or other product listed in Chapter 19 of
the IGC Code. Includes: Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers (LNG) and Liquefied
Petroleum Gas Carriers (LPG).
Container Vessels Segment
This segment is extremely service driven and also
time sensitive due to the vessels’ rigorous schedules and the fact that they
carry mostly high-value manufactured goods.
Full Container ship (07).
A vessel specifically designed or converted to
transport containers above the upper deck and that has cellular guides
permanently affixed in its OP, September 20 , 2007 Subject: Applicable Pricing
Structure by Definition of Vessel Types 4 holds. The ACP shall determine
whether a vessel belongs in this category, taking into account the information
provided by the vessel.
Vehicle Carriers Segment
This segment is also service-driven and
time-sensitive due to the high value of the cargo and type of vessel utilized.
This segment includes mainly PCC (pure car carriers) and PCTC (pure car truck
carriers).
Vehicle Carrier (09).
A highly specialized ship that is designed to carry
cars, trucks and other wheeled or tracked (i.e. self-propelled) vehicles.
Unsuitable for virtually all other types of cargo so that operators are entirely
dependent on those cargoes and particularly the vehicle manufacturers. The
vessel is fitted with ramps which enable the vehicles to be driven on and off
the ship. The deep-sea trades have largely given way to PCTCs where some of the
decks are higher, thus enabling trucks and other ‘high and heavy’ cargoes to be
carried.
Passenger Vessels Segment
This segment is largely service driven, very
seasonal and includes all types of cruise vessels.
Passenger Ship (11).
Vessels that principally transport passengers, and
normally runs on fixed published schedules. Normally, this type of vessel is
provided with
accommodations for more than (12) passengers. Only
those specifically designed for passenger transport will be eligible for the
application of the per-berth tolls charge. Those passenger vessels that also
carry other types of cargo will continue to be charged on the actual toll basis
(PC/UMS tonnage).
Displacement Segment
The vessels under this category pay tolls based on
the Fully Loaded Displacement. Dredge (90). A boat or barge used for dredging.
Floating Drydock (91).
A dock that floats on the water and can be partly
submerged to permit a ship to enter it and afterward floated to raise the ship
high and dry as in a permanent dry dock.
Warship (93).
Any government-owned vessel used by its owners for
military purposes, including armed coast guard vessels and naval training
vessels. Auxiliary vessels such as tankers, ammunition vessels, refrigerated
vessels, repair vessels, tenders, or vessels used to transport general military
supplies, are excluded from this definition.
Submarine (94)
Vessel designed for underwater operations primarily
for military purposes.
Other Displacement (99)
Any other type of vessel for which the application
of a PC/UMS Net Tonnage would be impractical.
OP, September 20 , 2007 Subject: Applicable Pricing Structure by
Definition of Vessel Types 5 Others Dry/Liquid Bulk carrier (05). A vessel
designed to carry both liquid and dry bulk cargoes either at the same time or
alternately. Includes: Ore/Oil Carriers, Bulk/Oil Carriers, Ore/Bulk/Oil
Carriers. Container/Break
Bulk Ship (06)
A vessel specially designed to carry
containers and/or break bulk cargoes
below deck. Excludes: Regular General Cargo Ships (01), Refrigerated Cargo
Ships (02) carrying containers on deck and Dry Bulk Carriers (03). Includes: PC
- Part Container Ship, CC - Convertible Container Ship, CP - Container/Pallet
Ship. Roll On-Roll Off (08). A vessel
which is specially designed to carry wheeled
containers or trailers, and only use the roll on-roll off method for
loading and unloading. Containers and trailers are stowed on board on their
transport wheels. Includes: CT -
Container/Trailer Ships.
Barge Carrier (13).
A vessel specially designed to carry barges. This
type of vessel may also carry
containers and barges at the same time or may be fitted to act as a full
container vessel. However, its primary purpose is the carriage of barges.
Includes: Lash, Sea bee (Also called
"Lighter carriers").
Barge, Not Self-Propelled (14).
A barge without its own means of propulsion. Includes: Individual lighter units usually
carried by barge carriers but being towed through the Canal independently.
Excludes: Tank Barge (23).
Barge, Self-Propelled (15).
A barge with its own means of propulsion. Excludes:
Tank Barge (24).
Fishing Vessel (16).
A vessel designed primarily for the capture of fish
and other marine species. Includes: Trawlers, Purse, Seiners, Shrimpers.
Factory Ship (17).
A vessel designed with the proper installations for
processing fish or other marine species. The process might consist of canning,
packaging, oil extraction, fishmeal manufacture and others. Factory ships
usually carry plant workers in addition to the regular crew complement. Includes: Floating fishmeal
plants, Fish packers, and Whale oil factories.
Tug (18).
A boat used for towing and pushing other vessels.
Research Vessel (19). A vessel engaged in scientific or commercial research and
carrying the necessary equipment and gear for this purpose. Includes: oil
exploration and exploitation research vessel, Fishing research vessel,
oceanographic and other scientific
research (geophysical, etc.).
Cable Ship (20).
A vessel fitted for laying and repairing underwater
cables. OP, September 20 , 2007 Subject: Applicable Pricing Structure by
Definition of Vessel Types 6
Yacht (21).
Any vessel, which can be identified as a pleasure
craft (non-commercial use). Includes: Sailboats and Motorboats.
Rig Tender/Supply Vessel (22).
A vessel designed to carry personnel,
supplies, equipment, fuel, mud and/or
water to offshore oil rigs.
Tank Barge, Not Self-Propelled (23).
A barge without its own means of propulsion
designed for the carriage of liquid cargoes below deck or in fixed tanks above
deck.
Tank Barge, Self-Propelled (24).
A barge with its own means of propulsion designed
for the carriage of liquid cargoes below deck or in fixed tanks above deck.
Includes:
Tank barges with outboard motors. Exclude: Tankers
(04), Gas Carriers (12).
Barge Integrated (25)
A non-tank barge designed to be rigidly connected
to a pushing vessel in such a manner as to form a composite unit. A composite
unit means two vessels connected by “mechanical means” so that they react to
the sea and swell as one vessel so as to be considered a single power-driven
vessel. The bridge wings of the pushing vessel(tug)should extend all the way as
to be flush with the barge’s extreme beam.
Tank Barge Integrated (26)
A tank barge designed to be rigidly connected to a
pushing vessel in such a manner as to form a composite unit. A composite unit
means two vessels connected by “mechanical means” so that they react to the sea
and swell as one vessel so as to be considered a single power-driven vessel.
The bridge wings of the pushing vessel(tug)should extend all the way as to be
flush with the barge’s extreme beam.
Other-PC Net (50).
Vessel types not classifiable under any specific
ship type code mentioned above. Includes: Hospital ships, Troop ships, Buoys,
Rail, Ferry, Icebreaker, Floating crane, Army and navy transport and Supply
ships. We trust that this satisfies the
questions that our customers may have concerning this issue.