Panama Adds Capacity

The Panama Canal Authority said May 11 that a second tie-up station at the Cartagena approach is in full operation, allowing the Canal to transit at least one additional vessel per day.

As southbound traffic begins in the afternoon, northbound traffic can now go through the first two locks and tie up at one of the stations to wait for all southbound traffic to pass. They can then continue their transit from the more advanced point.

Before the introduction of these tie-up stations, in the afternoon, for example, the two locks on the Pacific end of the Canal would have been idle until nearly the end of all of the southbound traffic.

“The Cartagena tie-up station allows us to transit at least one more vessel per day,” said ACP Executive Vice President of Operations Manuel Benítez. “Each additional vessel that we transit increases capacity, provides our customers with greater service and saves money. These modern tie-up stations are really a tribute to our staff’s innovative problem solving and constant creative thinking,”

Along with the new track and turntable system in the Gatun locks and an enhanced tug fleet, the ACP has increased daily transits to more than 40 per day.

Contact Thomas L. Gallagher at tgallagher@joc.com .