A public hearing has been held recently by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) which focused on its proposal to implement a new toll structure when the expanded canal has been opened in 2016.
In Container Management, Sandor Molnar of the 360 Quality Association, said: “Regrettably, this phenomena is imposing a heavy extra burden on the operators. We believe it is not the true intention of the Panama Canal authorities to make no distinction between ballast and laden vessels.”
The Panama Canal expansion is an ongoing project and is scheduled for completion in early 2016.
It is currently up against much competition, with HKND Group proposing a new canal in Nicaragua that would stretch from the Atlantic Coast to Brito off the Pacific Ocean, and with the Suez Canal also undergoing works.
