Cruise ships and other passenger vessels have been left out of the latest Panama Canal toll increases, but most other commercial vessels are facing substantial increases. Under the new pricing scheme, designed to bring canal tolls closer to the ‘value of service’ provided, ship-type segments have been increased from eight to ten, with the old tanker segment separated into three new segments and ro-ro vessels in the vehicle carrier segment.
This provides the following segmentation: (1) full container, (2) reefer, (3) dry bulk, (4) passenger, (5) vehicle carrier/ro-ro, (6) tanker, (7) chemical tanker, (8) LPG tanker, (9) general cargo and (10) others. All except full container, reefer and passenger face toll increases of about 15 per cent this year.
