Canal Transit

1. Using an Agent
An agent can schedule your admeasure inspection, pay the toll and other fees, take responsibility for the reimbursable fees, schedule the transit, provide canal lines, additional fenders and crew (line-handlers) as well as other needs: provisioning, chandlery etc. They are usually an invaluable source of help if anything should go wrong with the transit.

2. Ooganizing the transit yourself
It will take a few hours over 2 or 3 days to complete the process yourself.

This is the condensed version:

  • Step 1. Take your papers and schedule the inspection at the Panama Canal Admeasurement office.
  • Step 2. ACP inspector will visit your vessel at SBM: the Captain must be present.

    You will need to show and enclosed and working head/toilet, 4 lines of 125 ft long and adequate fenders (we recommend 1 every 10 feet and a minimum of 8 per side).

Be aware that the use of modified old tires as fenders can cause damage to you and your boat as well as other vessels alongside. They are also a well known breeding ground for mosquitos when dumped.

  • Step 3. Pay toll in cash at Citi bank.
  • Step 4. Schedule transit.
  • Step 5. Keep in touch with the canal authorities. Confirm your transit 48 hrs, 24 hrs, and 12 hrs prior to your scheduled transit departure time (ETD). Monitor Channel 12 starting 4 hours prior to ETD.
  • Step 6. Depart marina at least one hour before you are due to pick up the advisor (normally close to the anchorage area known as ‘the Flats’). You should have at least 5 crew members onboard (Captain plus 4 line handlers).

For more information on crossing the canal: WWW.PANCANAL.COM/COMMON/MARITIME/FORMS/4352-ENG.PDF

A FINAL NOTE:
Have numerous copies of your boat registration papers and also copies of your crew list. The crew list should state the persons’ date of birth.

Good communications with Canal officials may save you time and expense and also result in a smoother transit for all concerned.

This is a listing of well known agencies:

ASSOCIATED: +507 211 9540
FENTON: +507 441 4177, +507 6674 5520
FERNIE: +507 269 9154
PANAMA AGENCIES: +507 430 2367

Less known agencies have also been providing good service to cruisers.