Panama Canal: Fewer ships, less waiting

The Panama Canal Authority said there were 3,576 transits of the waterway in the second quarter, 6.4 percent fewer than in the same period last year.
   Transits of supers, larger ships that require greater time and navigation skills to transit the canal, declined 1.5 percent to 1,815.
   With regard to key segments, transits by dry bulkers and tankers increased, while vehicle carriers, general cargo, container and reefer ships decreased.
   The upside to the decline for canal customers was less congestion. The authority said "canal waters time," the average time it takes a vessel to transit the waterway (including waiting time for passage), decreased 47.9 percent to 19.96 hours from 38.31 hours. For ships with reservations, the transit time fell 26.5 percent to an average 14.53 hours. With congestion low, fewer ships are using the canal's booking system, only 53.19 percent of ships compared to 95.51 percent a year ago.

Source: American Shipper