Two major airlines have announced new Panama Canal surcharges on Asia-U.S. East Coast routes in response to the Canal Authority's implementation of a new reservation system to "optimize transit operations."

As of January 1, the Panama Canal Authority (CMA) will revise its transit reservation system, including changing the tariff structure and amount of charges, and introducing new tariffs.

The ACP said the changes were intended to "improve service levels, reflect the value of booking services, improve supply and demand management, and optimise transit operations".

MSC informed customers that "in order to address the increased costs associated with these changes and maintain its commitment to providing reliable and efficient service," it would begin imposing the Panama Canal surcharge on Jan. 1.

The Swiss-based airline will charge $40 per teu for all cargo connecting Asia to the US East Coast and Gulf Coast.

Last week, the CMA CGM similarly recommended imposing a "Panama Canal transit surcharge" from January 1 "to recover this additional cost" and "continue to provide the most reliable service through the Panama Canal."

The French carrier will also charge $40 per teu for all shipments from Asia via the Panama Canal to the eastern United States and Gulf Coast.

Shippers and freight forwarders should assume that CMA CGM's Maritime Alliance partners, COSCO, OOCL and Long Green, may introduce similar surcharges because of the affected services, Chesapeake Bay Express (CBX), Gulf of Mexico Express (GMXP), Manhattan Bridge (MANB), Pacific Express 3 (PEX3), Chesapeake Bay Express (CBX), and Pacific Ocean Express (PEX3). The South Atlantic Express Line (SAX), Taiwan Strait (TWS) and Vespucci Service (Vespucci), are all Ocean Alliance services - AWE9, AWE7, AWE8, AWE6, AWE2, AWE5 and AWE4.

According to the eeSea liner database, only AWE9 and AWE6 are operated separately by CMA CGM vessels. AWE7 is operated by COSCO; Cosco, CMA AWE8; Cosco, OOCL AWE2; AWE5 is deployed by Evergreen, while AWE4 is deployed by Evergreen and CMA CGM.

A quick calculation by Loadstar found that an average ship of about 12,500 teu would incur a transport surcharge of about $500,000, while a ship of 9,000 teu would incur a transport surcharge of about $360,000.

A new ACP measure, designed to discourage late cancellations and no-shows, will impose a hefty surcharge equivalent to 250% of the booking fee if a vessel does not arrive within seven days of the scheduled date.

However, the ACP has also introduced "increased flexibility in exchange requests" so that operators can submit exchange requests for free up to 14 days before the stated arrival time. Bookings made within 14 days prior to arrival will be subject to a 1% surcharge of the booking fee.

In addition, the company has introduced a "Last minute transit booking fee" to provide an option for vessels that cannot obtain a booking time through regular means to arrive at the canal without a reservation.

Finally, a "vessel dispatch fee" will be imposed "to better accommodate ships that cannot be booked through the regular reservation system but need to coordinate with the canal to arrange transit."

"These changes will provide customers with greater flexibility and convenience while ensuring efficient use of canal resources," the ACP said.