PANAMA CANAL AUTHORITY CLARIFIES 96-HOUR PRE-ARRIVAL RULE

PANAMA CANAL AUTHORITY CLARIFIES 96-HOUR PRE-ARRIVAL RULE    The Panama Canal Authority has issued clarifications for its recently announced rules for vessels bound for the canal to file notice 96 hours in advance of arrival.
   “Vessels bound for the Panama Canal with a voyage time of less than 96 hours from their previous port of call are also required to submit their pre-arrival notice 96 hours prior to arrival, the authority said.
   “Vessels that fail to provide their pre-arrival notification 96 hours prior to arrival at Canal waters will not be scheduled for transit ahead of vessels that have complied with this requirement, or that have already been assigned pilots for transit,” the authority said.