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* Worldwide – World Holidays: 1-14 December 2013
* Panama, Panama Canal – Temporary reduction of booking slots
DATE: November 30, 2013
COUNTRY: Worldwide
World Holidays: 1-14 December 2013
Public holidays around the world in the coming two weeks include the following:
Sun 1 Dec – Portugal Restoration of Independence
Thu 5 Dec – Thailand: HM King’s Birthday
Fri 6 Dec – Spain Constitution Day
Fri 6 Dec – Finland Independence Day
Thu 6 Dec – Farmer’s Day (Ghana)
Mon 10 Dec – Thailand Constitution Day
Thu 12 Dec – Neutrality Day (Turkmenistan)
For information about operations around the world contact the respective GAC office. Details may be found in the ‘GAC Worldwide’ section of gac.com
DATE: November 30, 2013
COUNTRY: Panama
PORT: Panama Canal
Temporary reduction of booking slots
During the past weeks, the Panama Canal has experienced an increase in backlog, mainly due to the arrival of a large (91’ beam or over) vessels, coupled with a high incidence of fog in the months of October and November.
Several measures have been taken to date to reduce the backlog, such as the suspension of all routine maintenance at the Locks until further notice, addition of locks crews for relay operations; and the addition of tugs and tugboat crews to assist in transit.
Additional measures that are being implemented until further notice are as follows:
– Temporary reduction in the number of booking slots for supers. The number of available booking slots for supers will be reduced to 16 effective
December 3, 2013;
– Temporary suspension of the Just-In-Time transit service. Vessels that have already been confirmed for Just-In-Time service will be honoured.
Applications for reserved transits under this booking condition will be received at 0900 hours, November 30, 2013. The booking slot available through the auction process as well as the slots available for vessels
less than 300 feet in length will continue to be offered. The limits by direction and restriction will remain unchanged.
(For information about operations in Panama contact GAC-Wilford & McKay at gac wilfordmckay.panama@gac.
Source: Panama Canal Authority Advisory to Shipping No.A-32-2013 dated 29 November 2013
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