Panama Canal doubles pilotage fees for deficiencies

Panama Canal doubles pilotage fees for deficiencies    The Panama Canal Authority has reminded ocean carriers of additional pilotage fees in effect.
   “Vessels arriving for transit with noted deficiencies or conditions may require the assignment of additional pilots in order to complete their transit of the canal,” the authority said in a statement. Such deficiencies include restricted visibility (container vessels are excluded), inadequate sanitary facilities, inability to relay, clear-channel restrictions due to cargo or ship design, and the inability to maintain the canal’s minimum ‘full ahead’ speed of eight knots “required to complete the transit in standard time.'
   The canal’s fee for pilots assigned before a ship’s transit begins is $2,250 per pilot. The fee for pilots assigned due to late discovery of a vessel’s deficiency is $4,500 per pilot.
   Handline vessels using transit advisors instead of pilots, which cannot complete a transit of the canal on the same day, will be assessed a transit delay charge “of $440, plus other charges for launch and moorage,” the authority said. These fees will not be levied if a transit is interrupted “due to Canal scheduling considerations.”