PANAMA CANAL HANDBOOK 4.

Panama Canal Transit Information

a. Canal Transit
Time is always of importance in the shipping industry and transit of a vessel through the Panama Canal is certainly no exception. It cannot be stressed sufficiently that as much notice of an impending transit of a vessel be given by her Owners of Operators to this Agency in order to provide a complete breakdown of Canal transit expenses so that funds can be transferred in a timely manner, thus securing the earliest possible transit.

b. Initial Transit
In the case of a vessel making her initial transit of the Panama Canal, the following documents should be onboard and copies forwarded to the Panama Canal Authority care of this agency prior to arrival in order to coordinate admeasurement and transit: International Tonnage Certificate (ITC/69) Calculation sheets for the ITC/69 Certificate Lines plans or Offset tables General Arrangement Plans (including profile view) Funnel Plans Capacity Plan Tank Capacity Plan Displacement Scale Deadweight Scale International Load Line Certificate Should these documents, and in particular the ITC/69 Certificate not be available, an additional charge for Admeasurement will be levied against the vessel.

c. Radio Advice
RADIO ADVICE We suggest that vessels cable us upon their departure last port, or when Canal transit has been fixed, the 96, 72, 48 and 24 hour ETA updates. In their 72 hour notice, Master's must advise all pertinent information required by Canal Authorities as outlined in Maritime Regulations for the Operations of the Panama Canal, Chapter II, Article 30 quoted hereunder. ALPHA - The Panama Canal Identification number of the vessel.

BRAVO - Estimated date and time of arrival, port of arrival and request for Canal transit if desired. CHARLIE - Estimated draft upon arrival, in meters, fore and aft, in Tropical Fresh Water. DELTA - Any changes in the vessel's name, country of registry, structure or use of tanks that have occurred since the vessel last called in Panama Canal Waters. ECHO - Will the vessel dock at Balboa or Cristobal? What is the reason for docking? If it is for cargo operations, fuel or water, give the tonnage involved in each case. Is there any other reason the vessel will not be ready to transit upon arrival? What is the reason? FOXTROT - The nature and tonnage of any deck cargo. GOLF - If the vessel carrying any explosives or bulk dangerous cargoes, as classified in Maritime Regulations for the Operations of the Panama Canal, Chapter IX, Section One, Article 114, state the technical name, quantity (in long tons), United Nations number, the International maritime Organization class and division (include compatibility group for explosives only), and the stowage for each dangerous cargoes carried. HOTEL - If the vessel is carrying any packaged dangerous goods, as specified in Maritime Regulations for the Operations of the Panama Canal, Chapter IX, Section One, Article 114, other than explosives, state the International Maritime Organization class and division and the total quantity (in long tons) within each class. INDIA - Quarantine and immigration information: (1) Is radio pratique desired? (2) State the ports at which the vessel has called within 15 days preceding its arrival at the Canal. (3) State all cases of communicable disease aboard and the nature of the disease or diseases, if known. (4) The number of deaths which have occurred since departure from the last port and the cause of each death, if known. (5) The number of passengers disembarking and their port of disembarkation. (6) The number and ports of origin of any stowaway and brief description of the identity papers of each stowaway. (7) The number, kind and country of origin of any animals aboard. Are any animals to be landed?. (8) The country of origin of all meat, whether carried as cargo or as ship's stores. (9) Has the vessel called at a port in any country infected with foot and mouth disease or rinderpest during its present voyage? Countries considered to be infected are: (a) All countries east of the 30th meridian west longitude and west of the international date line, except Australia, Channel Islands, Fiji, Greenland,

Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Republic of Ireland. (b) All countries of South America; (c) Curacao (the leeward islands of the Netherlands Antilles); (d) Martinique; (e) Cuba; (f) Guadeloupe. (10) Specify whether the vessel has a valid deratting certificate or deratting exemption certificate issued 180 days prior to arrival. NOTE: For all items that can be answered "No", "None" or "Not Applicable", Use the word "NEGAT". RADIO PRATIQUE Radio pratique may be granted by the Panama Canal Authority quarantine Office, on request from the vessel through the ship's local agent providing: (a) The vessel is free of rats and vermin. (b) The deratting certificate or deratting exemption certificate is valid (i.e., date of issue not more than 180 days prior to date of arrival at the Panama Canal). (c) Vessels arriving within 15 days from the ports designated in the Aedes Aegypti Indices Bulletins disinfected with an approved aerosol.

d. Radio Pratique
Radio pratique may be granted by the Panama Canal Authority quarantine Office, on request from the vessel through the ship's local agent providing: (a) The vessel is free of rats and vermin. (b) The deratting certificate or deratting exemption certificate is valid (i.e., date of issue not more than 180 days prior to date of arrival at the Panama Canal). (c) Vessels arriving within 15 days from the ports designated in the Aedes Aegypti Indices Bulletins disinfected with an approved aerosol.

e. Radio Station
INTELMAR RADIO (call letters HPP 60), operates in Panama. If vessels encounter difficulty making contact, messages may alternatively be routed through any convenient station. We will respond to any traffic directed to us via the same routing through which it was received.

f. VHF Radio Communication

Cristobal and Balboa port traffic is controlled through VHF Channel 12. It is suggested that vessels approaching either port, communicate with the signal station on this frequency, coordinating their movements and

reporting their anchoring time. VHF Channel 13 is required for use during Canal transit and is exclusively reserved for that purpose. Our office maintains watch on Channel 12, but after initial contact, communication will be on a mutually agreed alternate channel. In addition to the above, commercial facilities are available through Intelmar Radio which offers both international and local telephone service and Panama Radio which provides local service only. We supplement our VHF system by the use of portable radios operating through Panama Radio, especially after regular office hours. Email us at gateway@shipsagent.com Disclaimer