The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) reported that the implementation of the new Panama Canal tolls will be postponed until October this year.
The decision of the Board of the ACP is given after analyzing feedback from customers and users of the Panama Canal, received during a consultation process that began in April when the proposal to increase tolls was presented, and which included a public hearing on 23rd of May.
During the consultation period, the ACP received a total of 18 letters from representatives of countries, associations of maritime users and other stakeholders, while at the public hearing there were seven maritime sector and government representatives.
The revised proposal increases from 8 to 10 the number of types of ship segments of the Panama Canal.
Once approved, the market segmentation scheme of the Panama Canal will include the following segments: (1) container carriers, (2) overhead, (3) refrigerated cargo, (4) dry bulk carriers, (5) tankers, (6) chemical tankers, (7) gas carriers (8) vehicles carries and ro-ro, (9) passengers and (10) others.
The revised toll adjustments apply only to the following market segments: general cargo, dry bulk, tankers, gas carriers, car carriers and ro-ro, and others.
Source: Panamaamerica