【Regulation】 Panama Canal Vessel Requirement from 2024

PMA issued  ‘OP Notice to Shipping No. N-1-2024’ on 1 Jan. 2024 as usual. You can find the shipping notice from below link.

https://pancanal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/N01-2024-Vessel-Requirements-1.pdf

We have studied the differences of the regulation from the one of 2023, and we describe some major revised regulations.

※Please note that this survey was conducted independently by OMC and does not guarantee that all changes have been covered. We also recommend that you check with the shipyard or PMA regarding permission of Panama Canal for each individual vessel.

Revision from the 2023 regulation

1. Additional Pre-submission Documents for Initial Transit (Attached Document No. 6)
It has been added that the certificates for Mooring Rope and Mooring Tail to be used in the New Panama Lock must be submitted to the Panama Canal Authority before the Initial Transit.

2. Additional Pre-submission Documents for Initial Transit (Attached Document No. 7)
A Certificate of International Energy Efficiency has been added to the documents that all vessels must submit to the Panama Canal Authority for the Initial Transit.

3. Requirement for Installation of Positioning System for Vessels exceeding 109 feet (33.22m) Beam (Attached Document No.12)

Vessels exceeding a beam of 109 feet (33.22m) are required to install a Positioning System of specific manufacturer and model designated by the Panama Canal Authority. Please note that this regulation has been in effect since October 2023. For more information, please refer to the article below.【Regulation】 Mandatory installation of a positioning system in the Panama Canal

4. Addition of Requirements for Management of Mooring Rope and Mooring Equipment for New Lock Transiting Vessels (Attached Document No. 15)
It has been added that vessels transiting new locks must comply with the latest Mooring Equipment Guideline (MEG, with MEG4 being the latest edition as of January 2024) established by OCIMF for the testing, selection, use, management, and disposal of Mooring Rope and Mooring Equipment. We recommend reviewing the management plan for the relevant vessel's Mooring Rope and Mooring Equipment in accordance with the requirements stated in the MEG, and updating the plan if necessary. Furthermore, while this requirement also states that the 'selection' of Mooring Rope and Mooring Equipment should adhere to the MEG, it is possible that modifications to the mooring fittings may be necessary depending on the vessel. We are currently conducting further investigations regarding the scope of this requirement. We will provide updates as they become available.

5. Addition of Requirements for Bits on Neopanamax Vessels with a Beam of 37.1m or More (Attached Document No. 17)
It is now specified that Neopanamax vessels with a beam of 37.1m or more must have eight Mooring Lines (two headline, two bow spring line, two stern spring line, and two stern line), each equipped with Chocks and heavy bitts with a Safe Working Load (SWL) of 64 tons or more.

6. Clarification of Temperature and Humidity Requirements for Bridge and Pilot Accommodation (Attached Document No. 26)

The clarification of temperature and humidity that should be maintained in the bridge and pilot accommodation (temperature between 21°C and 26°C, humidity between 40% and 70%).
This requirement is the same as the one communicated in the Advisory to Shipping No. A-11-2023, issued in 2023. For more details, please refer to the article below. 【Regulation】Disruption charge at Panama canal //Update on 2 June 2023//

Please refer to the attached document for a list of rule changes starting from 2023. We have excluded minor changes (such as spelling or wording differences) that are not expected to have an impact on the content from the list. Additionally, we have attached the Notice to Shipping from 2023 for your reference.