Consulate General of Panama 
CROSSING THE CANAL
Being the marvel of modern engineering, the Panama Canal was designed to unite the world before the concept of connectivity and globalization was understood. First, imagined by the Spaniards, with their way of the cross in the colonial era, then visualized by the French, who did not succumb under the tropical mosquitoes, to be finally built by American military engineers in 1914.
Even today, the crossing of the Panama Canal is a fact that astonishes the most experienced captains and sailors. The precision and professionalism of the engineers and officials of the Panama Canal Authority make channel transit one of the safest in the world.
If you are the owner or captain of a yacht or boat under 38 meters, we invite you to open the following link where you can find the information provided by the Panama Canal Authority, necessary for the crossing:
For vessels longer than 38 meters, we invite you to open the following link where you will find information provided by the Panama Canal Authority:
Information on the Canal
The Panama Canal is approximately 80 kilometers long and it takes a ship between 8 and 10 hours to cross the interoceanic route. Between 35 and 40 ships pass through it daily. On average, 14,000 vessels from more than 100 countries use the Panama Canal each year. According to statistics, to date in 2018, 13,795 passages have been made through the Panama Canal for a total tonnage estimated at 442 million.
The Panama Canal serves 144 shipping routes connecting 160 countries and serving more than 1,700 ports worldwide. The main users of the canal are the United States, China, Chile, Japan and South Korea. In 2018, it is estimated that the highest number of transits per flag was from Panama, Liberia and the Marshall Islands.
The main vessels using the Panama Canal are container ships, followed by dry bulk, refrigerated tankers, vehicle carriers, general cargo and cruises. The main routes that compete with the Panama Canal are the intermodal system (ports, trains and trucks) of the United States and the Suez Canal. In 2018, the most traded commodities were containerized cargoes, Pacific minerals and oil to the Atlantic and containerized cargoes, cereals and oil from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The Panama Canal and its expansion is a green route because, being a shorter route, it helps to reduce CO2 emissions from ships on longer routes.
Panama Canal Authority
The Panama Canal was inaugurated on August 15, 1914 and expanded on June 26, 2016. This monumental engineering work has been administered by the Panama Canal Authority since December 31, 1999, when it was finally transferred by the United States to Panamanians, thanks to the TORRIJOS-CARTER treaties, signed on September 7, 1977, which gave us full control of their operations.
The Panama Canal Authority’s vision is to lead global connectivity and drive the country's progress. Among its objectives are the following:
- Business growth by increasing the volume of tones to generate higher revenues.
- Diversification of revenues through complementary activities.
- Maximize business profitability through efficiency, productivity and effective risk management
- Strengthen relationships with customers and strengthen business intelligence.
- Ensure availability in volume and quality of water for canal operation and for human consumption.
- Ensure the application of best business practices and good corporate governance.
- Transform the organization by developing its capabilities and skills
- Proactively strengthen the image, respect and credibility of the Canal.
