• 2 min de lectura
• 2 min de lectura
The Panama Canal announced a new phase of its Long-Term Slot Allocation (LoTSA) program for the period between January 3 and April 3, 2027. As part of this initiative, it will continue to offer the program in the Neopanamax locks and will incorporate, for the first time, a pilot program for the Panamax locks.
LoTSA is designed to offer customers greater predictability in planning their operations, allowing them to secure transit slots in advance during the dry season. This alternative seeks to provide greater certainty for scheduling itineraries and facilitate better logistical planning for Canal users.
The program will be offered through sealed-bid competitions and will be supported by a specialized customer service team, dedicated to providing timely support and an agile experience to participants.
The LoTSA Neopanamax competition will take place on November 17, 2026, while the LoTSA Panamax pilot program competition will be held on November 24, 2026.
The LoTSA Neopanamax program will offer 36 packages, with a total of 270 slots (165 northbound and 105 southbound), at a rate of three slots daily, which will be distributed through different packages.
On the other hand, the new LoTSA pilot program in the Panamax locks will offer 51 packages, for a total of 288 slots (147 northbound and 141 southbound), equivalent to three daily slots during the validity period with a single level of flexibility. These packages will be offered through a sealed-bid auction, maintaining the award mechanism, selection criteria, and tie-breaking rules of LoTSA Neopanamax.
It is important to mention that the remaining capacity is expected to be offered through the ordinary Reservation System and Auctions, as is currently the case.
With the LoTSA Neopanamax and LoTSA Panamax programs, the Panama Canal reaffirms its commitment to continuous service improvement, operational efficiency, and the reliability of its solutions for international maritime trade.
This program takes on special relevance in the current operational context, as the Panama Canal adopts measures to ensure the sustainability of operations in the face of climatic conditions that impact water availability.
Through LoTSA, Canal users can choose to reserve transit slots, strengthening the planning of their itineraries and the reliability of their logistics chains.
For more details, please visit https://pancanal.com/en/lotsa/
