All reservation-related transactions, including auctions, will be available during these extended hours, although tie-breaking competitions will continue at their usual scheduled times, ACP said. From 7 October, Reservation Period 3 will also close daily at 15:00, applying equally across all vessel categories: Neopanamax, Supers and Regular.
The ACP added that the changes form part of a broader effort to improve service flexibility. Earlier this year, it introduced LoTSA 2.0, a revamped long-term slot allocation programme that shortens the booking cycle from 12 months to 6 months and reduces the average daily slot allotment from four to three.
Why this matters now?
Recovery from drought-driven restrictions
During 2023 and early 2024, the Panama Canal faced severe drought, forcing the ACP to impose daily transit and draft limits. At the peak of the crisis, daily transits fell to the low 20s compared with a pre-drought norm of around 36, according to Seatrade Maritime and More Than Shipping. The restrictions created bottlenecks and pushed some shipping lines to reroute.
By mid-2025, water levels in Gatún Lake had recovered enough to support a 50-foot draft, and the Canal has since been operating closer to full capacity. However, analysts cited by Kuehne+Nagel and project44 note that overall transit volumes remain below pre-drought peaks despite the improved hydrological situation.
The new reservation changes therefore appear timed to meet growing demand while offering shipping lines more flexibility in planning.
Greater transparency and responsiveness
The extended office hours and revised booking window follow direct customer feedback, according to the ACP. The Authority says the aim is to reduce friction in the reservation process and better accommodate time zones across key shipping regions.
The LoTSA redesign is also intended to give carriers more manageable planning horizons in a volatile market. Industry observers suggest that smoother reservation access may help shipping lines synchronise bookings with overlapping schedules, such as Asia–US and Latin America–Europe services.
