GUIDE
Panama Canal Authority
Electronic Data Collection System (EDCS)
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Effective July 1, 2004 all information required prior to arrival the Panama Canal, must be submitted utilizing EDCS or Canal Internet Gateway (CIG) web portal. In view majority of vessels do not have internet capability, the following information is sent via email/Inmarsat to the agent in order to adapt and submit to the Canal Authority in the EDCS format:
- ETA/Ship Due Form 4376
- Cargo Declaration Form 4363 (for bulk/breakbulk
/general/autos/empty containers)
- Crew List Form 1509
- Passenger List Form 20
Quarantine SIQD (Form 4398) prepared on board and submitted to ACP on arrival (no change).
High volume data (containerized cargo liner vessels and passenger/crew lists for cruise ships) cannot be adapted for EDCS filing by the Canal agent. Operator or cargo owner must contact ACP direct to develop their EDI for submitting this information through the Canal Internet Gateway (CIG) portal, or via a Value Added Network (VAN). Canal customers must request their ID/password and CIG accreditation directly to the Canal Authority (Forms 337 and 339).
For every vessel arriving in Panama Canal waters, the Canal Authority assigns a visit number for the reception of data through EDCS and the CIG web portal. Container vessels in alliances/joint services, the operator i.e. the entity paying the transit tolls, is responsible for the overall submission of advance information. Alliance partners are declared when the operator's agent creates the transit file. Partners are obliged to provide details or their portion of the cargo on board utilizing the unique visit number. Each partner must have CIG accreditation with the Canal Authority.
It is imperative vessels submit ETA and all related information to the agent with sufficient lead time to permit conversion of data to the EDCS system
prior to 96 hours. Recommend no later than 112 hours in advance.
Vessels arriving from ports less than 96 hours away from the Canal are required to provide preliminary information for cargo and passengers (cruise ships) in order to meet the 96 hour deadline. A second and final advice must be submitted immediately upon departure from the last port of call.
Initial Transits - A preliminary Admeasurement Data Sheet information (ADS) must be submitted.
Vessels calling Balboa or Cristobal which do not transit the Canal afterwards (local call) are not required to submit cargo information, but must send ETA/Ship Due, Crew and Passenger Lists (even if no passengers, you must reflect zero) 96 hours in advance. The ports of Manzanillo International Terminal (MIT) and Colon Container Terminal (CCT) are not within Canal waters, and thus no pre-arrival information is required by the Panama Canal Authority. ACP Advisories No. A-35-2004 and A-36-2004 cover in depth the aforegoing.
Following are contact details for EDCS support:
Mr. Jose Carrasco
Project Manager ADCS
Tel: (507) 272-1863 - Fax: (507) 272-3077
Email: jgcarrasco@pancanal.com
a. International Call Center
Tel: +65 6887-7288
b. Customer Support
EDCS_support@pancanal.com
c. Registration and Accreditation
EDCS_registration@pancanal.com
d. Customer Relations
Customerelations@pancanal.com
e. General Information
EDCS_info@pancanal.com
To obtain this information with enterprise logo, please download following file.
Electronic Data Collection System.doc (78KB)