The ups and downs of Canal metrics

- The Panama Canal Authority’s operational metrics from October to December 2009, show that Canal Waters Time (CWT), the average time it takes a vessel to transit the Canal (including waiting time for passage), significantly decreased despite increases in total transits and net tonnage.

CWT decreased 27.5% compared with the corresponding period in the previous year: total Canal transits increased 2% to 3,590, with dry bulk and tanker transits increasing while container, reefer and vehicle carrier transits decreased.

“We saw an increase in a few key areas – particularly tonnage and transits – which point to a global economy slowly, but surely, recovering,” said ACP Executive Vice President of Operations Manuel Benítez. “We will go into fiscal year 2010 with slightly positive projections and expect sluggish shipping segments to show some recovery.”

(Source: Container Management)