Due to ongoing climate and water issues with the Panama Canal, Maersk is modifying its Oceania – Americas service. The service will now be divided into two parts, utilizing a land bridge instead of the canal.
Maersk informed customers that its northbound and southbound OC1 service, operating between Oceania and the Americas, would cease transiting the Panama Canal. Instead, it will use a rail connection across the Central American country.
"The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has had to reduce the number and weight of vessels that can pass through the canal due to current and projected water levels in Gatun Lake. We continue to work closely with the ACP, adjusting our operations to fit these changes and making service alterations to minimize customer impact," Maersk explained.
Despite the ACP increasing transit slots to 24 daily from January, pulling back from a plan to reduce them to 18 daily from February, daily transits are still below the usual 36. Draught restrictions are also in place, affecting cargo capacity. Further restrictions could be imposed during Panama's dry season from late December to April.
Vessels that previously used the Panama Canal will now bypass it, using a "land bridge" that employs rail to transport cargo across Panama's 80 km width. This creates two separate loops, one Atlantic and one Pacific.
The Pacific side of the service will turn at Balboa, Panama, dropping off cargo for Latin America and North America and picking up cargo for Australia and New Zealand. The Atlantic loop will turn at Manzanillo, Panama, following the same process.
"We will continue operating the PANZ service from the US West Coast to Oceania, providing coverage from both coasts. We will also connect Gulf ports to the OC1 service in similar ways to today. We remain in close contact with the Panama Canal Authority to provide timely updates," Maersk concluded.
Source: seatrade-maritime.com