Maersk has issued an advisory to customers using its northbound and southbound OC1 service between Oceania and the Americas, stating that the service would no longer transit the Panama Canal due to reduced vessel transits caused by low water levels. Instead, the company will use a rail connection across Panama. While the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) increased the number of daily transit slots to 24 from January, it remains well below the normal level of 36, and draught restrictions are in place, affecting cargo capacity. Vessels on the Pacific side will turn at Balboa, dropping off cargo for Latin America and North America and picking up cargo for Australia and New Zealand. On the Atlantic side, vessels will turn at Manzanillo, dropping off cargo for Australia and New Zealand and picking up cargo for Latin and North America. The OC1 service will omit Cartagena in Colombia, and southbound vessels may experience delays. Maersk assured customers that the PANZ service from the US West Coast to Oceania would continue, providing coverage from both coasts.
(Image: Maersk.com)
