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Ninety Great Years
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On August 15, 1914, the world changed forever.
For decades, scores of explorers and engineers
had dreamed of connecting the two great oceans
of the world. They dreamed of something so
extraordinary and radical that some derided their
mighty ambition. Ninety years ago, that dream
became a reality when the SS Ancon began its
journey crossing from the Atlantic Ocean
through the Canal to the Pacific. The sacrifices of
the hundreds of thousands who worked tirelessly
to make the Canal a reality were enormous -
many gave their lives. Today, the Canal plays a
crucial role in global commerce. The opening of
the Canal was historic, and it remains as relevant
and important today.
On August 13, the new management
SPresident of Panama, Martin highly recog
Torrijos Espino, announced
the appointment of Dr. Effective Sel
Ricaurte V6squez M., former Manuel Ben
Deputy Administrator of the of the Depa
Panama Canal Authority Services, is
(ACP), as Minister of Finance deputy adm
and Economy and President of
the ACP Board of Directors. Dr. Vasquez has a
long and distinguished record in the
international and local financial circles, and his
experience with the operations of the
waterway, as well as his leadership in financial
With a 26-
Panama Car
positions bo
Divisions. T
he has ma(
Panama Can
Readying itself for the future, the Panama Canal
seeks to maintain its commitment to the
maritime industry while providing the best value
to its customers. Recent and ongoing projects
include widening of the Gaillard Cut; deepening
of Gatun Lake; modernizing the locomotive fleet
and replacing the locomotive tow tracks at
Gatun Locks; implementing an electronic
system to send and receive data to and from
vessels planning to transit the Canal and
implementing a new navigation system to track
and monitor Canal traffic. Conscious of its
importance to world trade and the evolving
changes in the maritime industry, the Panama
Canal is now developing the Master Plan that will
provide the roadmap for its future.
t at the Canal is
nized.
ptember 1, 2004, Mr.
itez, former Director
irtment of Industrial
the designated acting
inistrator of the ACP.
year career at the
al, Mr. Benitez has held managerial
th in the Maintenance and Electrical
through his tenacity and hard work,
de important contributions to the
al.
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MIT named "Best Container Terminal
in the Caribbean"
On October 19, 2004, Manzanillo International Terminal (MIT)
was named "Best Container Terminal in the Caribbean" during
the 34th Annual Banquet of Caribbean Shipping Association,
held in Cartagena, Colombia. The award was given after an
assessment on the performance of the Caribbean ports in
calendar year 2003, and it is a recognition to those ports in the
region that have achieved high levels of excellence in the
delivery of sea port services. This is the third time that MIT has
been recipient of this award.
MIT is a transshipment center for the handling of
import/export of containers, ro-ro and breakbulk cargoes.
It is located near the Atlantic entrance of the Panama
Canal immediately adjacent to the Colon Free Trade Zone
(CFZ), and it offers port services to shipping lines
transiting the Panama Canal or serving the Caribbean
Region.
A panoramic view of MIT
The Panama Canal recorded 12,518 oceangoing transits for the
twelve months of fiscal year 2004, a 6.8 per cent increase from
the 11,725 oceangoing transits a year before. Overall, Canal
traffic performance benefited from a worldwide economic
recovery. Panamax-size vessels, those of 100-foot beam and
over, registered 5,329 transits, a remarkable rise of 12.5 per
cent over the previous year total. During this twelve-month
period, Panamax-size vessels transits held a 42.6 per cent
share of total oceangoing transits.
The enclosed graph illustrates a monthly comparative
breakdown by fiscal year.
Month FY 2003 FY 2004 % Change
Oct. 379 428 12.9%
Nov. 397 464 16.9%
Dec. 417 468 12.2%
Jan. 421 437 3.8%
Feb. 398 420 5.5%
Mar. 417 453 8.6%
Apr. 376 445 18.4%
May 398 473 18.8%
June 364 452 24.2%
July 411 435 5.8%
Aug. 392 444 13.3%
Sep. 367 410 11.7%
Total 4,737 5,329 12.5%
Panama Canal Sets New Safety
Record
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has continued to set new
safety records at the waterway with a further reduction in the
number of accidents during fiscal year 2004.
Out of a total of 14,035 transits, only 10 accidents were
recorded. This figure is two less than the official figure for the
previous year.
This improvement in safety is particularly notorious
considering that transits increased, especially in the larger
Panamax-class vessels, which increased by 12.5% in 2004 to
more than 5,000 transits.
Increased safety in the face of the growing challenge of
keeping up with demand for the waterway is attributed to the
expertise of ACP's workforce and the permanent
modernization program.
ACP Receives ISO 9001:2000
Certification
In July 2004, the Panama Canal Authority Safety Division
received ISO 9001:2000 certification resulting from an
audit of its Quality Management System (QMS) performed
by Det Norske Veritas (DNV).
The ACP sought the certification because of its firm
commitment to innovative management. Receiving it
confirms that the ACP is implementing robust
management procedures that enhance Canal reliability,
efficiency and safety. The Panama Canal is the largest
area to be ISO 9001:2000 certified in addition to being
the only "World Wonder" to have undergone the process,
according to Alan Marsh, president of the Stat-A-Matrix
group.
Two hundred and sixty seven million Panama Canal/Universal
Measurement System (PC/UMS) tons were transported
through the Canal during the 2004 fiscal year nearly a 10
percent increase from fiscal year 2003. This marked increase
was primarily attributed to a rise in transits by Panamax-sized
vessels, particularly containers.
"We've been working hard to improve our services,
optimizing the Canal's value and efficiency. This increase
reflects our clients' confidence in the Canal's reliability. As the
Canal makes every effort to increase capacity to match
demand, we at the ACP are presented with great
opportunities and challenges," said ACP Administrator
Alberto Aleman Zubieta. In FY2004, 592 more Panamax-
sized ships transited the Canal, compared to numbers
reported for FY2003. These vessels have greater capacity,
moving more containers in a single transit.
Container vessel transiting the Panama Canal.
TETAV SCEDL OFLCS OUAE
November 10-12, 2004
November 17-19, 2004
December 16 17, 2004
Lane Outage
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Tentative
Tentative
Tentative
Revisions to On-deck
Cargo Charges
The ACP is currently considering a change to the present
method of charging for containers, which would
measure the total number of on-deck containers that
the vessel could carry and would therefore differ from
the current practice that limits the charge to about 8 per
cent of the vessel's total on-deck container carrying
capacity.
The revised system would introduce a new fee structure
separate from tonnage, which would be based on a per
unit charge for containers carried on-deck. The ACP
proposes to adopt this charge based on today's industry
standard for a Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU), that
is, 20'x8'x8.5' in size. Using the new fee structure, the
cost per ON-DECK TEU would be approximately $40 per
TEU.
To avoid double counting, the Canal rules of
admeasurements would be adjusted so as not to include
the on-deck portion in the PC/UMS Net Tonnage formula
that is in effect today. Therefore, it is proposed that the
PC/UMS Net Tonnage formula would no longer include a
portion of the volume of the maximum capacity of
containers which the vessel could carry on-deck, but
instead two separate charges,
one an on-deck per TEU charge.
one a tolls charge and
Canal Implements Shipboard
Oil Pollution Emergency Plan
Effective January 1, 2005, the Panama Canal Shipboard Oil
Pollution Emergency Plan Requirements (PCSOPEP) will be
implemented.
The PCSOPEP seeks to implement emergency preparedness
strategies for Panama Canal waters. It will also aid the ACP in
maximizing efficiency while lowering the risk of spills and
emergencies by safeguarding life, reducing the impact on the
environment, and ensuring the continuous operation of the
Canal. The PCSOPEP requirements are available in the
enclosure of Advisory A-25-2004 at the Maritime Operations
link of the Panama Canal Authority's website at
www.pancanal.com.
ACP Administrator Visits Chile
In early August, Panama Canal Administrator Alberto Aleman
Zubieta, Rodolfo Sabonge, Corporate Planning and Marketing
Department Director, and Jorge L. Quijano, Maritime
Operations Director, met with representatives of major
shipping lines and maritime associations in Chile to exchange
views and strengthen ties. The organizations visited included
Compafia Sudamericana de Vapores, S.A. (CSAV), Compafia
Chilena de Navegaci6n Interoceanica S.A. (CCNI), Sociedad
Naviera Ultragas Limitada, Cape Tankers, Asociaci6n Nacional
de Armadores de Chile, and Asociaci6n de Exportadores de
Chile (ASOEX). Chile is the fourth largest user of the Panama
Canal.
The Canal continues to operate vessels as efficiently as
possible given its present capacity. In August, five "extreme-
sized" Panamax vessels (more than 900' in overall length)
transited successively through the waterway's Gatun Locks.
Visit to Compailia Chilena de Navegaci6n Interocehnica,
S.A.(CCNI). From left to right: Luis Villaroel, CCNI Operations
Manager, Carlos Allimant, CCNI Chief Executive Officer and
General Manager, Alberto Alemin Zubieta, ACP Adminstrator,
and Marcelo Ramos, CCNI Asset Management and Cost Control
Director.
We wan you comet fo mor inforatio
Your comments and suggestions are very important to us. If you would rather
receive it electronically, please send us a note with your correct email address to:
customerelations@pancanal.com If you need additional copies mailed to other
officials within your corporation, please contact us at the address indicated in the
next box.
Panama Canal Authority
Corporate Planning and Marketing (PM)
P.O. BOX 526725,
Miami FL. 33152-6725
Tel. (507) 272-7961
Fax: (507) 272-1416
e-mail: customerelations@pancanal.com
SEE THIS NEWSLETTER ON THE ACP WEB SITEAT www.pancanal.com
(then click on "Virtual Newsrooms")
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