Changes to be phased in starting in 2023, after comments Operator wants fees to reflect shifting market conditions A new fee structure proposed by the Panama Canal Authority April 1 includes a call for ships transiting in ballast to pay a percentage of the regular laden toll, independent of the market segment, while a special return trip tariff for LNG tankers would be phased out. Receive daily email alerts, subscriber notes & personalize your experience. Register Now For a tanker, in ballast refers to a voyage with no cargo on board to get a ship in position for the next loading port or docking. A ballast tank is filled with seawater when a vessel is in ballast, to ensure stability. The toll changes could significantly impact voyage expenses for ships that are committed under long-term charter that trade in the route from the US Gulf Coast to East […]