Panama Canal halves long-term slot allocation commitment
The new system will begin on January 4, 2026, with the second phase beginning in July 2026
Shipping companies will now only have to commit for a six-month period, rather than 12, which the authority said offers greater flexibility
THE Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced changes to its long-term slot allocation programme (LoTSA), halving the “horizon” period.
Shipping companies will only have to commit to using slots for six months if they win the bid, rather than the 12 months in place now.
Shortening the window means customers will be able to “better align their transit planning with market conditions, seasonal fluctuations and fleet deployment strategies”, the ACP said.
In addition, the authority has reduced the number of slots available under the LoTSA programme from four daily slots to three, which will make more slots available for spot bookings and daily auctions.
The first window of the new LoTSA programme will run from January 4, 2026 to July 4, 2026, with bidding to begin on October 28, 2025.
ACP said it would also reinstate the advance access rule applied for LNG vessels to “support the operational reliability of LNG carriers, which often operate under strict delivery schedules and volatile market conditions”.
The authority will also remove the restriction limiting customers to one booking slot per day through the neo-panamax locks.
