【Regulation】 Panama Canal Vessel Requirement from 2025

PMA issued  ‘OP Notice to Shipping No. N-1-2025’ on 1 Jan. 2025 as usual. You can find the shipping notice from below link.

https://pancanal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/N01-2025-Vessel-Requirements.pdf

We have studied the differences of the regulation from the one of 2024, 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 2024 regulation

Definition Panamax Vessel
The upper limit of beam for Panamax vessels has been changed from 32.31m (106 feet) to 32.36m (106.2 feet). (Attachment No.1)

Required Documentation for Initial Transit
The IOPP certificate has been added to the list of documents to be submitted to the Canal Authority at the time of initial transit. （Attachment No.4）

Accommodation Ladder

New requirement for all vessels with freeboards more than 9 meters must also have accommodation ladders that lead aft located near midships long enough so that the lower platform can reach the deck of the pilot launch (about 1000 mm above the waterline) at the minimum transit draft for the vessel so they can be used during Panama Canal transits to safely embark/disembark linehandlers prior to entering/after leaving Pacific and Atlantic locks, while the vessel is moving.(Attachment No.4)

Maneuvering Fuel

Below items are updated in section 32. 'Maneuvering Fuel'

• ’Definition’ and 'Prohibition' were added (Attachment No.7）
• Changing over the main engine from residual marine fuel to any compliant fuel while in Panama Canal waters is prohibited. （Attachment No.7）
• Alternative fuel and Zero carbon fuel are also permitted to use in Canal Waterers. Please note Alternative fuels include boil off gas and biofuel, which have been permitted in the past. (Attachment No. 8)

Please refer to the attached document for a list of rule changes starting from 2024. 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 2024 for your reference.