The proposed toll hikes at the Panama Canal will be moved from July this year to October 2012 and October 2013 following protests from shipping companies.
“At the request of the industry, implementation of the new charges has been postponed from July 2012 to October 2012, giving the industry additional lead time before implementation of the new tolls as well as providing an additional three months before the second step of increase in 2013,” the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced in a press release.
It added that the deferment “acknowledges the importance of preserving the Canal’s competitiveness and value to the market, provides additional time to the industry to make pertinent pricing adjustments, while always considering the Authority’s interests.”
The ACP said it has also eliminated the proposed container and breakbulk segment, which will continue to be classified as part of the segment known as others.
The toll increase will apply only to the general cargo, dry bulk, tanker, chemical tanker, LPG, vehicle carrier, ro-ro, and others segments.
Not to be adjusted “at this time,” the ACP said, are the fees for the container, reefer and passenger segments as well as the price per 20-foot equivalent unit for containers carried on board a vessel.
The ACP said there will also be changes to tolls applied to small vessels based on their length to incorporate adjustments not previously considered.
Following the toll hike delay, the authority said it is reopening the issue for public comment over the next 15 days before making its final recommendation to the Panamanian government for final approval.
Photo: DoctorWho
