MR.

January 1, 2006
MR Notice to Shipping Í-1-2006

(5) Á vessel whose ballast draft does not meet the minimum draft requirements
establishedby this section may be acceptedfor transit ïç a regular basis, provided the vessel
operatoris grantedpermissionafter submitting the following information to the Transit Operations
Division manager:
(a) Principal dimensionsofthe vessel.
(b) Deepestattainableminimum draft (fore and aft).
(c) Limitations ïç visibility fore and aft from the navigation bridge.
(d) Necessaryexcerptsfrom the vessel'splans,drawings and maneuvering
data that relate to the vessel'ssuitability for transit. The information submitted should
includethe proposedPanamaCanal ballast condition detailedoutput, showing the status
of all ballast and consumabletanks, plus the maneuveringdata ßçaccordancewith ÉÌÏ
ResolutionÁ.601 (15), Appendices1,2 and 3.
(6) Table 1 provides the minimum saltwaterdrafts for vesselsanticipating transit. Drag
must not adverselyaffect maneuverability. ÁçÕ drag beyond 6 ft (1.83 m) is consideredadverse
drag ßçthe PanamaCanal and adjacentwaters.

LENGTH MINIMUMDRAFTS
Up to 425' (129.54m) Tri~m~d so pilot can seethe rangesover the forecastlefrom center of

Over 425' SW
Over475' W
Over 525' SW
Over 580' TSW
Over 625' TSW
Table É- Minimum Salt Water Drafts

(7) Figure 1 (page 20) provides the limiting drafts due to bilge radius. Ïç an off-center
É lockagewith the vesseltouching the lock wall, the turn of the bilge will clear the locks wall batters
at the most critical point as shown ßçthe table.
(8) Á vessel having received permissionto transit at less than the minimum required
draft will be inspectedby the Authority õñïç its first visit under ballast conditions. If the vesselis
acceptablefor transit at less than the prescribedminimum draft, the operatorwill be notified that
transit ïç a regular basis is authorized provided the vessel meets the special minimum draft
specifiedßçthat notification and that the mastersignsa form releasingthe Authority from liability.
(9) If the vessel is found not to be acceptablefor transit ïç a regular basis, a single
transit may be authorized,at the discretion of the Transit OperationsDivision manager,subjectto
imposition of special conditions that may be required for reasonsof safety or continuanceof
regularCanaloperations.
(10) Vessels are expectedto aðßve at the Canal properly trimmed and with a draft
which, when ßç fresh water, its deepestpoint of immersion will not exceed either the Published
TFW Draft, the Maximum Authorized Transit Draft establishedby the Canal for that particular

18
ÄòÅ*

ÑÁÍÁÌÁ CANAL AUTHORITY

December 1999

- -
 :';:?~ , ; -"-~~~-~

2. Minimum Draft:

a ÁéI vessels must have sufficient ballast to permit safe handling.

salt water drafts for vessels anticipating transit:

LENGm

Over 129.54m. ÔSW

Over 144.18m TSW
Over 160.02m ÔSW
Over 116.18m ÔSW
Over 190.50m ÔSW

a.1 Drag must not adversely affect maneuverability ÏÃ visibility.

a.2 Drag normally should not exceed 1.80 meters (6.0 feet).

b Á vessel whose ballast draft does not meet the minimum draft requirements may be accepted
for transit, provided the following information is submitted:

b É ÑÞçcßÑal dimensions ofthe vessel.

b.2 Maximum attainable draft under this condition (fore and aft).

b.3 Limitations ïç visibility fore and aft from the navigation bridge.

b.4 Copies of excerpts from the vessel's plans, drawings and maneuvering data that relate to the
v~ssel's suitability for transit.

c. Á vessel having received permission to transit at less than the minimum required draft will be
inspected by the Authority upon its first visit under baIlast conditions. Ifthe vessel is acceptable
for transit at less than the prescribed minimum draft, the operator wiIl be notified that transit ïç a
regular basis is authorized. provided the vessel meets the special minimum draft specified ßç that
notification, and the master executes a form releasing the ÁuthïÞtÕ from liability.

Article 53: Draft restrictions may become necessary under the foIlowing circumstances:

2 When the Gatun Lake level decreases below 24.81 meters (81.5 feet).

3 Any other fact justifying such action.

Ôhe reductions are made ßç 15 centimeter (6 inch) decrements, with 3-week advance notice
where possible, based ïç precipitation forecasts. Ships already loaded to a prevailing draft
limitation at the time of promulgation of a new draft restÞctßïç are heJd to a tolerance of not

S4
 Panama Canal

35
Revised as of July 1, 1994

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§ 103.6

nmerciál vessel means a self-prQ Half Breadth to Qltside of Shell - "11."

essel, other than a naval, mlU
other public
Itegráted vessel. combinatto
tug-bárge É
j. barge that is specifically con' \ïé- - ct OF SHIP
to receive a tugboat and w\t É
r, becomes, in effect, a sinl{l é
lpelled unit.
'on-self-propelled vessel means \
which
Bd means either does not have
ï! propulsion, or hIé\ é
;alled means ï! propulsion whlo
functioning during transit. \
Iárge means
fullbody a f1at-bottonied
andheavy íè
constructio é
lt installed means ï! propulslon
Iiaximum authorized transit dra
dx.inches. \ Bottom of Keel Plate DÅÁÂ RISE
,sels with draft in excess of
Pnor to the lrotlal translt of
Éwhose transit draft will excoo
ents
)n
!t, required
must
six supply
in paragraph
inches, in full operatorI
owners, the
(b)(2)
infoI'Ï ÍÏÔÅ: ÏÐ an off-center lockagewith the vesseltouchlng the lock wall, the turn ï! the bilge
section and request the maximu 111clear the lock-wall batters at the most critical polnt as shownÉçthe Table ï! Limlting
orized transit draft for the vesSO rafts, paragraph(d)(3)ï! this section.
rnee,
Canal
>est çï operations
point later than two weeks
Captain
of immersion prio"
TFW)orfroh\ g, ,(c) Dráft.durmg . InI~Iál
... tránSlt.
. The in~-. Length Minimumdrans
)adin g ï! the vessel . This reque8 . ,\11\1transltth isi permltted
d t it atdra.f Á!
the maxl- Over 580' but nol more Ihan 22' lorward.24' afl. TSW.
be returned
imum with
authorized the approve
transit dra! ' he uminitial
au or ze
transit. rans
un1ess the t.vessel's
ter 625.0'.
0ver625' 24'10IWard.26'afl.
TSW.
)çped
The thereon.
information required by par Érictéïns lmposed
gcnt. or °:-vner by Cana1
is notified ï! authorl-
any r~- (2) The vessel,s drag must not ad-
;>h(b)(l) ï! this section shall be su 108, this maximu.m authorized transit versely affect maneuverability.
ted in the following format: aft wi11 remain éç effect. (3) The following table provides the
. (d) Minimum tránsit dráfts. measuredin limiting drafts due to bilge radius:
á.naÉ
áÉÉ must have
wáter-(l) sufficienttransiting
Á11vessels ballast theto TABLEOF l!MITINGDRAFTSÏõÅ Ôï BILGE
.srr THROUGH
ÔÇÅÑëÍëÌë CANAL rmit safe handling during transit. RADIUSCONTACTING CHAMBERBAnERS
! 1e following are minimum salt water IAlIows
for6-inchIhickrubber!enders
ïç IockwaIIsa\batler
éßïð ,Drééfts (TSW) for sh1ps anticipating iQcalions]
a,nsit: RadiusïÉ\õÃçïÉbilge(Ieet)
- Length Minimum dral\S l' 2' 3' 4' 5'
\ï 425' .. Ï" 35'8" 36'6" 37'4" 38'2" 39'0"
Ihell- - , , Tnmmed
ranges 50
over
ñlolIhe
can
lorecas\1e
see Ihe 1" 35'9" 357" 37'S" 38'3" 39'1"
- - Irom center ïÉ navigalion 2" ,. 35'10" 36'8" 37'6" 38'4" 39'2"
- ~ 3" 35'10" 36'8" 37'6" 38'S" 39'3"
S' lorward. 14' afI. TSW. 4" 35'11" 36'9" 377" 38'5" 39'3"
5" 36'0" 36'10" 37'8" 38'6" 39'4"
18' lorward. 20' afl. TSW- 6" 36'1" 36'11" 37'9" 387" 39'S"
7" 36'2" 37'0" 37'10" 38'â" 39'6"
20' lorward. 22' afl. TSW. 8" 36'3" 37'1" 37'1\" 38'10" c
9" 36'3" 37'1" 38'0" 38'10" ;