World Maritime News (135)

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) reported strong growth in FY2025/26, with 13,951 canal transits, a 4.1% increase from the previous year. Total tonnage rose by 8.2%, driven mainly by energy shipments and container vessels, while canal revenue reached $6.6 billion, up 16.6% year-on-year. Thanks to successful water-conservation measures and the return of normal rainfall after concerns over El Niño-related drought, the canal has restored capacity and reintroduced its last-minute reservation service, allowing ships another opportunity to secure transit slots on short notice.

According to the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, LNG remains the dominant alternative marine fuel due to its well-established infrastructure and higher energy density. However, regulations such as the EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime, and the IMO Net-Zero Framework are increasing compliance costs and gradually reducing LNG’s competitive advantage. Depending on how future regulations address methane emissions, green ammonia could become more cost-competitive than fossil LNG in the 2030s. The report concludes that LNG’s long-term role in shipping will depend largely on regulatory decisions, particularly the treatment of upstream methane emissions.

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