Panama Canal Implements Just-in-Time Service Trial Period

Panama City, Panama, May 30, 2013 - Continuing its commitment to provide a quality service to its customers, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has implemented the just-in-time service (JIT) that will allow vessels to have a more efficient transit. The new service will allow the vessels to arrive at the Panama Canal much closer to their scheduled transit time. This value-added service will allow vessels to have a more efficient fuel usage by having to remain at anchor for less time before actually beginning transit.

"This new service is part of our efforts to explore new options in order to better serve our customers," Panama Canal Administrator Jorge L. Quijano said. "The Panama Canal is not only committed to maintaining a high quality service, but also improve in the necessary areas."

The participation on this trial period will focus on vessels equipped with a type A Automatic Identification System (AIS) device. In order to evaluate the operational feasibility of the service, a proof-of-concept trial was developed and is being implemented since February 2013.

Requirements

In order for this service to be functional for both the Canal and its clients, the vessels' arrival time (ETA) must be as accurate as possible. The vessel must be willing and able to adjust its itinerary to meet the required ETA. Furthermore, the vessels must comply with the ACP pre-inspection procedures.

To achieve an effective level of JIT service, the selected vessels will be notified approximately 96 hours prior to their scheduled transit of their required ETA and tentative transit time. The Panama Canal will then use Satellite Automatic Identification System (SAIS) technology to track the vessels within a range of 2,000 nautical miles (1 nautical mile = 1,852 meters) before arrival and ensure that they can comply with the stipulated ETA. Additionally:

Non-booked vessels may request to participate in the JIT service; however, participation will be confirmed after securing a booking slot for that specific transit date. If the booking slot is not obtained, the vessel will not be allowed to participate in the JIT service.

 

Two JIT service slots per day will be offered to regular vessels (under 27.74 meters or 91 feet in beam) without transit restrictions, with a maximum of one JIT service slot per direction. The allocation of these JIT service slots will be determined by the order the requests were received.

Margaret Thatcher, the "Iron Lady” died on Monday, aged 87, after suffering a stroke.

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money," she once said.

Her personal credo, founded on competition, private enterprise, thrift and self-reliance, gave birth to a political philosophy known as "Thatcherism".  We certainly could use some of her philosophy at home nowadays. I was a huge admirer of hers.

Gorgeous Yoo and Arts Towers in Panama City finally nearly finished.

Gorgeous Yoo and Arts Towers in Panama City finally nearly finished.

Panama Canal reaches major milestone

The Panama Canal Authority has announced that it has reached a major milestone in the expansion of the facility having carried out over half of the envisaged improvements.

Photo by Juliette Passer

"The program continues to progress and reach milestones while we focus the next phases on building the locks," said Panama Canal Administrator Jorge L. Quijano. "We estimate based on the progress that we can begin commercial transits mid-2015," he said.

Once completed, the Panama Canal expansion, which is the largest project in its history, will double the waterway's capacity and allow for the passage of longer, wider vessels.
Meanwhile, the excavation of the Pacific lock access channel, involving the removal of more than 50 million cubic meters of materials along a 6.1km span, is 70% complete.

Happy New Year! ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! C Hoвым Годом!

    Photo by Juliette Passer, 2012

Make it the best one yet!

Panama City, Panama 2012

Panama is becoming one gorgeous city – a view last week from my friend’s balcony– enjoy and visit with us soon!

And a detail of my favorite new building – The Yacht Club –although I have not been inside -  it displays very elegant architecture from the street.

Despite slower economic growth in September 2012 reported by the Government of Panama, the country is still poised for double digit growth in 2012 overall.

Despite slower economic growth in September 2012 reported by the Government of Panama, the county is still poised for double digit growth in 2012 overall.

Panama's economic growth slowed to 7.8 percent in September compared with the same month last year, the government's statistics office said on Wednesday. Economic growth in September 2011 was 8.3 percent. The indicator measures the overall activity of Panama's economy in such sectors as services, manufacturing and utilities and is a rough proxy for quarterly gross domestic product data.

Growth in September continued to be led by gains in the construction and mining sectors, the result of significant government infrastructure projects. Panama has seen double-digit economic growth over the past few years, expanding 10.5 percent in 2011 with similar expectations for 2012.

Much of the growth is due to heavy spending on public works, including the $5.25 billion expansion of the Panama Canal and the construction of a $1.25 billion metro system.

In September, the hotel, restaurant and slot machine industries also performed well due to a rise in tourism, as did the transportation sector, mainly because of the movement of containers through ports.

The agricultural sector showed some gains in cattle and poultry farming, as well as watermelon and pineapple exports. However, Panama's manufacturing sector - including metals, plastics and textiles - showed declines, as did the fishing industry. Between January and September, the economy grew 9.5 percent compared with the same period in 2011.