The Panama Canal is preparing to roll out its NetZero Slot initiative, offering a weekly reservation option designed for Neopanamax vessels that operate on cleaner fuels and feature energy-efficient systems. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) said the program reflects its long-term plan to support the shipping industry’s decarbonization goals and aligns with its own commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
According to the ACP, the new slot provides a direct incentive for shipowners to make investments in energy efficiency and adopt low-carbon fuels. “The NetZero Slot is part of the Panama Canal’s commitment to reward and incentivize investments in energy efficiency and low-carbon fuels. As the shipping industry and its value chain progress toward net-zero emissions, we will continuously update the eligibility criteria to recognize and support these efforts,” the ACP said.
The first competition for a NetZero Slot will take place on October 3, 2025, and will apply to vessel transits scheduled between November 2 and November 8, 2025. To take part, customers must file requests through the canal’s booking system, including the preferred day of transit. Eligibility requires vessels to be registered as dual-fuel and capable of running on at least one fuel with a well-to-wake carbon intensity of 75 gCO₂(e)/MJ or less. Dual LNG, dual LPG, dual methanol and dual ammonia engines will qualify for the program. However, ships making their first transit will not be permitted to compete until they have undergone inspection by the Panama Canal Admeasurement Unit.
The ACP acknowledged that while lower-carbon fuels are still in the early stages of scalability, vessels will not be required to immediately switch to their use. Selection for the NetZero Slot will not be auction-based but instead determined by cargo condition, vessel capacity, and economic contribution. Meanwhile, the International Maritime Organization is working on the Sustainable Fuel Certification Scheme, which will use a well-to-wake approach to calculate the greenhouse gas intensity of marine fuels. The framework is supposed to offer an official process for ensuring that ships are certified to meet the carbon intensity levels needed to be eligible for schemes like the NetZero Slot.
The NetZero Slot was initially introduced earlier this year as part of a wider effort by the ACP to reward sustainability-focused investments. In addition, the canal authority has laid out a ten-year roadmap aimed at strengthening Panama’s position in international trade, building long-term resilience, and supporting national economic growth. More than B/. 8 million (about $7.9 million) has been earmarked for strategic projects that will generate new jobs, drive development, and increase contributions to the Panamanian government for social programs.
The plan includes the Río Indio Reservoir, which will supply water supplies to over a million people and increase reliability for operation in the canals. Another showcase project is the Interoceanic Energy Corridor, a 76-kilometer two-ocean terminal pipeline with up to 2.5 million barrels of energy products a day from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast without passing through the locks.The pipeline will generate 45,000 construction jobs and 11,000 operational jobs, producing more than B/.64 billion across its lifetime. The development of the Corozal Port on the east bank, integrated into a logistics hub connected by road and rail, will further enhance the canal’s role as a key driver of Panama’s competitiveness in world commerce.
