The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced the 2027 Long-Term Slot Allocation (LoTSA), covering transit dates from 3 January to 3 April 2027.
The existing LoTSA Neopanamax will continue under its current award mechanism, while a new LoTSA Panamax pilot will, for the first time, give eligible customers transiting the Panamax Locks the opportunity to secure slots in advance.
Through a sealed-bid auction, customers can bid for packages of pre-allocated transit slots, providing greater certainty when planning voyages and reducing reliance on the regular daily booking process. The new Panamax option is particularly aimed at customers with fixed itineraries and vessels that may face challenges securing slots through the regular booking system.
The LoTSA Panamax pilot will cover transit dates from 3 January to 3 April 2027, with all slots offered as Fixed packages at a base price of USD 60,000 per slot. It will be available to eligible Super-category Panamax vessels across market segments including dry bulk, tankers, LPG, full containers, and vehicle carriers/RoRo.
The first Panamax LoTSA sealed-bid competition will take place on 24 November 2026 at 10:00 Panama local time, followed by the priority booking window on 16 December 2026.
Once a package has been awarded, customers will also have flexibility through options such as vessel substitution, slot swapping, transit date changes, and transit in advance, subject to applicable conditions and ACP approval.
Key dates at a glance:
- 17 November 2026 – LoTSA Neopanamax competition
- 24 November 2026 – First LoTSA Panamax competition
- 16 December 2026 – First Panamax priority booking window
- 3 January–3 April 2027 – LoTSA 2027 transit period
The introduction of the Panamax pilot, alongside the continuation of LoTSA Neopanamax, gives shipping customers an additional option to secure transit capacity and plan Panama Canal passages with greater certainty during the 2027 dry season.
Our Panama team is available to discuss how the new LoTSA Panamax program fits your voyage and port call strategy. For further information, please contact [email protected] or +507 279 4110 / +507 6673 8417.