Panama Canal transit times reduce

The overall average time taken for a vessel to transit the Canal including waiting time for passage, decreased 24.7% from 26.22 hours to 19.75 hours. Time for vessels holding reservations decreased from 15.83 hours to 12.59 hours, or a 20.4% reduction.

Total Canal transits declined 1.5% – to 3,854 (3,914 -2009). Transits of supers, larger ships that require greater time and navigation skills, decreased 0.8% – to 1,801 transits (1,815 – 2009). Tonnage passing through the Canal showed a 2.3% drop from 75.74m tonnes to 73.99m tonnes.

While total transits and net tonnage decreased nominally, there was growth in some key segments, with general cargo, dry bulk and vehicle carrier transits increasing, while transits of containers, refrigerated cargo (reefers), tankers and passenger vessels decreased.