Panama Canal Revises Transit Booking and NetZero Rules
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has restored its previous transit slot allocation rules for Neo-Panamax locks and revised eligibility requirements for its NetZero programme, introducing greater flexibility for preliminary vessel inspections outside Panama. The changes affect commercial shipping operators competing for available canal transit slots and vessels seeking access to the low-emission shipping initiative.
Under the revised Panama Canal booking system, cancelled or newly available slots during booking periods 1A and 2 will be allocated through a special competition, effective immediately. Priority will be given to container ships, liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers, and vehicle carriers or roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels, in that order. Within each vessel category, Transit TEU Allowance (TTA) capacity will serve as the primary tiebreaker, where applicable.
Implications for Maritime Shipping
The restoration reverses the allocation criteria introduced after July 2026 and reinstates the previous priority structure for the specified Neo-Panamax booking periods. The revised framework defines how available transit capacity is distributed among key commercial shipping segments, with TTA serving as the first tiebreaking factor where applicable.
NetZero Programme Opens New Inspection Options
Alongside the booking changes, the ACP has updated eligibility requirements for vessels making their first transit through the waterway to participate in its NetZero programme. The initiative encourages investment in low-carbon vessels and energy-efficient maritime technology as part of the Canal’s wider decarbonisation strategy.
The ACP launched its operational decarbonisation transition in April 2021, establishing targets of carbon neutrality by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. Its transit-focused NetZero Slot programme for low-emission vessels officially commenced during the week of 2–8 November 2025, following initial bookings and rollout activities in early October 2025.
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Under the updated requirements, vessels must undergo a preliminary tonnage inspection conducted by the Panama Canal’s Admeasurement Unit. The revised procedure allows these inspections to be carried out outside Panama, enabling vessel owners and operators to complete the preliminary assessment before their ships arrive in canal waters.
Preliminary Inspections Effective 1 November 2026
Starting 1 November 2026, vessel owners, operators and authorised agents may request preliminary inspections ahead of a vessel’s arrival at the Panama Canal.
The assessment will provide the ACP with the information required to calculate transit tolls, establish vessel tonnage under the Panama Canal Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS), identify engine types and verify other technical requirements for participation in the NetZero programme.
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The change allows the Canal Authority to obtain essential vessel information in advance, streamlining the preliminary assessment process for first-time transit vessels seeking access to low-emission transit slots.
Together, the revised booking criteria and NetZero inspection procedures address two important aspects of Panama Canal operations: the allocation of commercial transit capacity and the assessment of vessels seeking to participate in its low-carbon shipping initiative.
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