What changed
- Last-Minute Reservations are back at the Panamax Locks, effective immediately (21 October 2026). The ACP says water-saving measures at the locks and close-to-average recent rainfall in the Canal watershed have let it sustain the number of Panamax transits it offers.
- Alliance swaps and substitutions extend to Super-category vessels for booking dates beginning 3 January 2027. Until now, the rules in Notice to Shipping N-07 (article 23, section 12) applied only to Neopanamax vessels. All other swap and substitution rules in N-07 stay the same.
What a Last-Minute Reservation is
Under Notice to Shipping N-07, it's a way for a vessel that couldn't get a booking slot through regular means to be assigned one after arriving in Canal waters, if a slot becomes available and the ACP, at its sole discretion, decides to offer it. In outline:
- It's open to vessels of all segments that have already arrived in Canal waters, are ready to transit, and, within the last seven days, have forfeited a slot and been unable to rebook, tried both a booking period and an auction, or tried at least two auctions.
- A slot may be offered 4 to 2 days before the transit date, or with less than two days' notice if one opens up later.
- Once a slot is allocated, the vessel must pay the Last-Minute Reservation fee set in the Official Maritime Tariff (by vessel size), including if it can't start the transit for reasons attributable to the vessel.
- The vessel must reach the first set of locks by 2359 hours on the booking date.
- It isn't available to vessels transiting with a Vessel Scheduling fee.
Who is affected
- Operators planning Panamax Locks transits who don't hold a reservation. There's now a route to a slot after arrival, but no guarantee of one.
- Super-category vessels of alliance members, for swap and substitution planning from January 2027.
What to do
- Keep booking. The ACP is explicit: while the water deficit in the watershed persists, the booking system remains the only way to guarantee a transit date, and vessels without a reservation may experience extremely extensive delays.
- Treat the Last-Minute Reservation as a fallback, not a plan, and budget for the fee if you use it.
- Ask your agent to confirm eligibility and current fees against N-07 and the tariff before arrival.
- Questions for the ACP: operationservices@pancanal.com.