Panama Canal Update:
Water levels remain extremely low in the Gatin Lake that feeds the Panama Canal due to drought conditions in the area, this is adversely affecting the lock system that operates and has led to restrictions in draught and vessel size able to transit the Canal.
Following a further review of the Canal booking system by The Panama Canal Authority, Maersk Lines and Hapag-Lloyd joint OC1 service that links Oceania to the USA East Coast will avoid the Canal and instead land-bridge containers by rail across Panama in an effort to avoid the lengthy delays being encountered at present.
The vessels that previously utilised the Panama Canal will now use the existing Panama Canal Railway to transport containers across Panama. The usage of the Panama Canal Railway is already a standard product for several other connecting services and the lines have confidence that OC1 cargo will continue to move seamlessly through Panama.
DP Word Update:
We are advised this morning that the Maritime Union of Australia has withdrawn some of the Protected Industrial Action (PIA) work bans and stoppages. Despite the withdrawal of some bans, there are still multiple protected industrial actions that remain ongoing, including *partial work bans, associated with the PIA for the period Monday 15 January to Tuesday 23 January 2024.
GPSM will continue to update the situation as further developments come to hand.