News / Cost of 'land bridge' alternative to Panama Canal too high for carriers

Photo 121590992 © Gualberto Becerra | Dreamstime.com

Liner operators say they are unlikely to emulate Maersk in using land transport to circumvent the Panama Canal  restrictions, as moving containers by land in the Americas could drive costs up more than 30%.

In January, the Panama Canal Authority increased the number of daily transit slots to 24, despite first announcing a reduction to 18 for February. However, this is still fewer than the usual 36 daily transits through the waterway.

In response, Maersk announced its OC1 service from Oceania to ...