Panama Canal talks tolls, expansion progress with Japanese car carriers THE Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has held talks with the Japanese Shipowners Association (JSA) and several car manufacturers in Japan as part of the ongoing discussions with car carriers about the expansion programme's progress and the future toll structure on its completion.

During the meetings, the Panama Canal provided an update on the expansion programme and presented the analysis of the results for the potential pricing structure for the car carrier segment taking into account the feedback received recently from this group.

 "These meetings with the industry are part of our efforts to keep an ongoing dialogue with our customers and keep them informed of the latest developments in all areas of our business," ACP administrator Jorge Quijano said. "Such meetings will continue through January 2014 to enable us to arrive at a final tolls proposal within the first half of 2014."

 The Panama Canal delegation also addressed operational issues and reported on planned additional investments in infrastructure and equipment that will take place in the near future beyond that related to the expanded Panama Canal.

 The Panama Canal has also been studying new business initiatives to maintain the competitiveness of the route and make the waterway more attractive to customers, such as the development of a container terminal, a ro-ro facility and logistic parks on the Pacific side.

 The vehicle carrier segment registered 37.7 million Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System tonnes during fiscal year 2012, an 8.6 per cent increase from the previous year.

 The US$5.3 billion expansion programme will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of locks, which will double the waterway's capacity.