Graphic rendition of expanded Panama Canal.Competition for container shipping in the Americas is gearing up as the Nicaragua canal project formally got under way last month.

However, almost in response, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced approval for the construction of a new container terminal and a reduced toll structure for liner operators next year.

ACP announced the toll levels with request for comments – with a 9 February deadline. The tolls are due to be introduced in April 2016, coinciding with the formal launch of the expanded canal, and will also do away with its previously obscure Panama Canal Unit Measuring System weight/volume-based method of charging, to be replaced by a per teu method.

In addition, the ACP is also set to introduce, for the first time, a loyalty scheme for container shipping lines.

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