The start of the NetZero Slot, an initiative designed to incentivise Neopanamax clients to mobilise towards decarbonization and achieve net zero emissions by 2050
Launch date:
The first competition of this weekly slot will be held on October 3, 2025, for transits during the week of November 2nd through November 8th, 2025 from: 08:00 to 08:30 hrs on the opening date of Booking period 1A for the Sunday of the transit week offered.
See Table 1.
Participation process:
Customers must submit their requests through the Transit Reservation (Booking) System including the intended transit day of the week.
One (1) slot from Booking Period 1A will be allocated to the NetZero initiative.
***Once slot is awarded, will be reduced for the specific booking date.
Cost:
Vessels awarded a NetZero Slot will be charged the Transit Reservation – Neopanamax Vessel fee indicated in the Maritime Services Tariff.
Benefits:
• Choice of transit date within the offered week
• Guaranteed 24-hour in-transit time
• Just-In-Time (JIT) service included
• Swap and substitutions will be allowed among vessels that have the same characteristics used when the slot was allocated.
All other rules and conditions published in Notice to Shipping N-07 will remain in effect.
Participation Requirements:
For this phase, vessels must be registered as dual-fuel and capable of operating on at least one fuel with an approximate well-to-wake (WtW) carbon intensity of 75 gCO₂(e)/MJ or lower.
The Panama Canal acknowledges that the availability and scalability of such fuels are still under development. Therefore, vessels will not be required to use lower-carbon fuels immediately; however, we will recognise the
investment in, and capability of, operating with them once they become available for bunkering.
Therefore, no additional paperwork will be required for participation in the competition for the NetZero slot.
The following table provides a carbon intensity matrix for marine fuels. The approximate carbon intensity is expressed in grams of gCO₂(e) per megajoule of energy produced (gCO₂(e)/MJ).
Therefore, dual fuel engines such as dual LNG-fuel, dual LPG-fuel, dual methanol fuel and dual ammonia fuel will qualify to compete for the NetZero Slot program.
*** First-time transit vessels will not be eligible to compete for the NetZero slot, as they must first undergo inspection by Panama Canal Admeasurement Unit.
Competition process:
The NetZero Slot will not be auctioned.
Instead, eligible vessels will be chosen based on the following order of criteria:
1. Cargo Condition: Laden vessels will be considered before ballast vessels.
2. Capacity: Vessels with a higher Panama Canal Universal Measurement System (PCUMS) tonnage will be considered ahead of those with lower tonnage.
3. Economic Contribution: This criterion will serve as the tiebreaker in the event of a tie in PCUMS tonnage. Vessels with the highest combined payments of tolls, marine services, booking and auction fees from their most recent transit will be considered first.
Table 1
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For more details please contact: [email protected]