OOCL vessel in a near-miss incident in the Panama Canal may face a “disruption charge
The Panama Canal Authority has imposed a new “disruption charge” on vessels that interfere with canal operations, with the largest vessels facing a $250,000 fine in the event of a serious incident. The new tariff, which went into effect this year, applies to mechanical issues that cause vessels to lose propulsion and block the canal, as well as navigational errors that could result in collisions. An OOCL vessel involved in a near-miss incident while being towed through the Panama Canal may be charged with disruption. Meanwhile, the Suez Canal was disrupted when the Liberian-flagged container ship MSC Istanbul broke down heading north, requiring four tugs to move it and diverting some vessels.
Source of information – The Loadstar
