Panama Canal Marks 26 Years of Panamanian Sovereignty Amid Operational Resilience
On December 31st 2025, Panamanian control over the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) celebrated 26 years. This milestone reflects Panamanian dedication to sovereignty, efficiency and sustainability within one of the worlds most vital maritime arteries.
Commemorate 26th Anniversary
On December 31st 2025, the Panama Canal marked 26 years since its historic transfer from US administration. As reported by Newsroom Panama, an event to mark this anniversary celebrated waterways evolution under Panamanian leadership with uninterrupted operations and economic contributions made towards nationhood.
Port Technology noted that the ACP represented this era of national control, with leadership reiterating their dedication to safety, expansion, and water resource management. President Jose Raul Mulino and other officials lauded its role in international trade ensuring its perpetual Panamanian ownership.
Noted in December 2024 summaries was the 25th Anniversary celebrations, where Administrator Ricaurte Vasquez and Minister Javier Martheel Icaza addressed sustainability challenges such as water supply diversification and infrastructure diversity, while awarding pioneer worker Miguel Guerra was held to symbolically recognize indigenous contributions to Canal management.
FY2025 Transit Recovery from Drought
According to Seatrade Maritime, Panama Canal transits increased 19.3% year-on-year during Fiscal Year 2025 from 11,240 in Fiscal Year 2024 due to improved water levels at Gatun and Alhajuela Lakes; this allowed daily capacities for 36-38 vessels (including 10 Neopanamax vessels, 20 Supers and 6 Regulars ).
December 2024 operations reported strong performance according to ACP Advisory A-01-2025 issued on January 10, 2025: 279 Neopanamax (84.23% efficiency), 577 Supers (83.19%), and 151 Regulars (80.79%). Regular scheduled maintenance work, such as East Lane works on January 23-24 and West Lane on February 4-5 and 17, ensured minimal disruptions.
Recent Innovations to Support Trade
No major announcements occurred precisely in late December 2025, yet ongoing initiatives from late 2025 provided substantial operational enhancement. For example, Long-Term Slot Allocation 2.0 launched with bidding on October 28, 2025 and first cycle implementation on November 15, 2025, helping optimize vessel scheduling during its inaugural semester through 2026-2027.
NetZero Slot, designed specifically to meet decarbonization goals of Neopanamax vessels, was officially inaugurated on October 5, 2025 and provides weekly dedicated transits using low-carbon fuels (Phase 1: WtW below 75gCO2e/MJ). JIT service and 24-hour guarantees help advance decarbonization objectives.
Effective October 1st 2025, a new risk-based vessel inspection model streamlines checks via initial physical and subsequent digital VUMPA inspections to minimize delays and costs while maintaining safety.
Kuehne+Nagel's updates from December 12-18, 2025 confirmed business-as-usual operations continued amid US policy discussions, providing assurance for global shipping operations.
These developments position the Panama Canal for continued prosperity, balancing celebrations of sovereignty with robust trade facilitation until 2026.