The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced that total canal transits during the 2009 fiscal year, which covers the period from October 2008 to September 2009, decreased by 2.4 per cent to 14,342 transits, down from 14,702 for the same period a year earlier.

In FY2009 Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) tonnage fell 3.4 per cent year on year to 299.1 million PC/UMS tons, down from 309.6 million PC/UMS tons.

General cargo traffic rose during the reporting period by 12.3 per cent from 779 in FY2008 to 875 transits, while dry bulk transits increased 11 per cent from 2,420 to 2,687. Container transits decreased by 5.1 per cent from 3,544 to 3,364 in FY 2009.

Canal Waters Time (CWT), the average time it takes a vessel to navigate the canal, including waiting time, fell by 26.9 per cent from 31.55 to 23.06 hours. For booked vessels (those ships holding reservations), CWT declined 16.1 per cent from 18.52 in FY2008 to 15.54 hours in FY2009, a statement from port authorities said.

"While world trade continues to rebound from the downturn, the ACP remains committed to increasing the value of the canal route for its customers. We closed the fiscal year with lower CWT numbers and solid overall metrics that reflect the ACP's steadfast resolve to provide the most safe, reliable and efficient service," said ACP executive vice president of Operations Manuel Benitez.