Four million dollars! Panama Canal "queue-cutting fee" set a new record 

Since the beginning of this year, the drought caused by El Niño has continuously affected the Panama Canal reservoir system, resulting in a decrease in the supply of fresh water needed for the operation of ship locks. The Panama Canal Authority has repeatedly reduced the number of ships passing through a single day. 

As a result, the queue of ships waiting to use the canal is growing. To rein in the situation, the Panama Canal administration announced increasingly severe restrictions on the passage, while holding auctions for those who wish to jump the queue to the front.

According to Bloomberg News, bidding documents show that Japan's Eneos Group paid $3.975 million in an auction that day. In addition, the company has to pay nearly $100,000 in regular transportation fees. 

There are not a few people who pay to cut in line. Shipping giant Maersk also paid $1.8 million to buy the right to plug two ships. The Panama Canal Authority said that the highest bidder in the auction is usually liquefied petroleum gas or liquefied natural gas carrier. Because if you don't cut in line, they don't know how long to wait, and paying for plug is worth more than waiting in line.

400万美元！巴拿马运河”插队费”刷新纪录

       今年以来，厄尔尼诺现象造成的干旱持续影响巴拿马运河水库系统，导致船闸运行所需的淡水供应减少，巴拿马运河管理局已经多次减少单日通行船只数量。

       因此，等待使用运河的船只队伍越来越多。为了控制这种情况，巴拿马运河管理当局宣布对这条通道实施越来越严厉的限制，同时，为那些希望插队到前面的人举行拍卖。

       据彭博社近日报道，招标文件显示，日本Eneos集团在当天的一次拍卖中支付了397.5万美元。除此之外，公司还需支付数十万美元的常规运输费。

       出钱插队的人不在少数，航运巨头马士基也花费180万美元为两船船买下加塞权。巴拿马运河管理局表示，拍卖中出价最高的通常是液化石油气或液化天然气运输船。因为如果不插队，他们不知道还要等多久，而出钱加塞比排队等待更值。

       挪威国际海运监测公司克塞内塔分析说，此次巴拿马运河限行恰逢全球需求疲软，因此运费尚未明显上涨。随着国际海运复苏，运河限行的负面影响将逐渐显现。