The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has bowed to industry pressure and revised its toll system and, in particular, lowered its fees for empty containers. The new toll structure will come into effect in April 2016, the same year that the work to expand the canal is scheduled to be completed to facilitate the transit of larger vessels.

The discount for each 20-foot standard container (TEU) missing from a ship's maximum capacity is currently set at US$8. Under the new proposals, the discount would be raised to between $30 and $40, depending on the size of the ship, reported London's Container Management.

Containerships of under 4,400 TEU will be charged $60 for each TEU of capacity and $30 for each loaded TEU. Currently, this is $74 and $8 respectively.

The respective charges for ships between 4,400 TEU and 6,000 TEU will be $60 and $40. The new charges for vessels between 6,000 and 9,000 TEU be $50 and $40; and for ships ranging in size from 9,000 TEU to the maximum of 12,000 TEU the charges will be $50 and $35.

The announcement by canal authorities follows a public hearing on proposed toll fees in March, where a spokesperson for the 360 Quality Association, which represents reefer owners and operators, had called for a discount for ships carrying empty containers.

At this hearing, the ACP was praised by vice-president of the Japanese shipowners association, Osamu Suzuki, for its extensive consultations with industry and for taking on some of the industry's suggestions.

At that time, Mr Suzuki also called for details of the charges for using the auxiliary services related to locks, such as tugboats, to be announced as soon as possible so that shipowners can determine the cost-effectiveness of using the expanded locks.

This week a spokesperson for the ACP said: "We are currently considering adjustments on the other marine services rates; however, they are still under study and will be presented to the industry in the upcoming months."