The Notice is available from the link below:
N01-2026-Vessel-Requirement
Our company has reviewed the regulatory changes effective from 2025, and the major amendments are summarized in the attached document.
Please note that this review was conducted independently by our company and does not guarantee full coverage of all changes. For the navigability of individual vessels through the Panama Canal, we recommend confirming with the shipyard or directly with the Panama Canal Authority.
Furthermore, the Panama Canal Transit Reservation System has been updated to LoTSA 2.0.
The changes are reflected in the following notice:
N-07-2026 - Panama Canal Transit Reservation System
FAQ-LoTSA
1. What is Long‑Term Slot Allocation (LoTSA)?
LoTSA is a system that allows Neopanamax vessels to secure transit slots through the Panama Canal by obtaining slot packages via the dedicated Panama Canal transit auction platform.
2. What is LoTSA 2.0?
LoTSA 2.0 is the updated program reorganized from the previous annual (52‑week) scheme into two periods of 26 weeks each.
It is designed to offer greater certainty, flexibility, and transparency.
3. Main differences between LoTSA 1.0 and 2.0
- Duration: 52 weeks → 26 weeks
- Number of packages: 39 → 30
- Additional segments: Ro‑Ro and Bulk Carriers added
- Improved flexibility: enhanced rules for advancing, postponing, and changing dates
In addition, participation restrictions for FlexSlot+ were officially announced in A‑33 (Oct. 27, 2025):
→ Full Container, LNG, and LPG vessels are not eligible for FlexSlot+.
4. Start date of sealed bidding
October 28, 2025
(Covering period: January 4 – July 4, 2026)
5. Auction time windows (latest)
- 08:00–09:00: FixContainer / FlexContainer
- 09:00–10:00: FixGas / FlexGas / FlexGas+
- 10:00–11:00: FlexSlot+
Updated under A‑32‑2025 as a “parallel but staged” segment‑based approach.
[ADV-33-202...am-Winners | PDF]
6. Base slot pricing
Example: FixGas (northbound)
1 slot per month × 6 months, bid at USD 300,000 per slot → total USD 1.8 million.
7. Handling of identical bids
If multiple bids are equal, priority is given in order of earliest bid submission time.
8. When the number of packages exceeds the number of participants
Each participant receives one package in descending bid order.
Additional packages for those requesting multiple units are allocated in the same order thereafter.
9. Vessels not eligible for LoTSA
Daylight‑restricted vessels, tugboat + barge combinations, non‑self‑propelled vessels, etc.
10. LoTSA 2.0 period structure
26 weeks are divided into seven 4‑week periods.
Weeks begin on Sunday and end on Saturday.
11. Benefits for LoTSA slot holders
- JIT transit equivalent to that of general reservation slots, without additional fees
- Unlimited swaps/substitutions up to 2 days before arrival
- Exchange allowed between LPG⇔LNG and among container ships with different HML restrictions (conditions apply)
- Ability to advance or postpone slots
- Improved 18‑hour ITT application
- Higher bidders receive priority for earlier slot‑registration windows
Please refer to the attached FAQ for details on fee structures, cancellation procedures, and contact information.
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