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Panama and Suez canals: what your policy must cover
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In the canal, your boat is not quite yours for a few hours.
Panama and Suez are the bottlenecks of a circumnavigation. You transit with a pilot on board, lines handled by people who are not your crew, and often rafted to another boat. For those hours the risk changes character, and so do the questions for your insurer.
At a glance
Check that your cruising area includes both canals
Tell your insurer about the transit before you go
Typical damage: hull knocks and cleats torn out under jerking loads
Note the name and registration of any boat rafted alongside
Worth knowing
Panama and Suez canals: what to know before you go
In the Panama locks the boat rises and falls held by four lines, often together with large ships. The typical damage is to the hull and the cleats: the load arrives in jerks, at points that are not always built for it. A badly chosen strong point tears out fittings, and the repair ends up on deck, not on the line. Fenders, topsides and superstructure take the knocks.
Rafting with other boats is common in both canals. Damage you cause to the boat next to you is a matter for your liability insurance; damage caused to you is a matter for the other boat's liability. If that boat cannot be identified, you depend on your own hull policy. Note the name and registration of your neighbour before you enter, not afterwards.
The transit is arranged through an agent and needs the boat's measurements and documents, including proof of insurance. Canal authorities expect adequate third-party liability, so check your limit before you book. A certificate in several languages avoids delays, and a delay in the canal costs money on its own. If repairs are needed on the way, it helps to know who can source spare parts.
Questions and answers
Common questions
What damage is typical in the locks?
Hull damage and cleats or fittings torn out, because the load on the lines comes in jerks. Choose your strong points carefully and make sure they are strong enough. Ask your insurer beforehand how lock damage and collisions with fixed or floating objects are handled.
What if a rafted boat damages mine?
That is first a matter for the other boat's liability insurance. Write down its name and registration before the transit, because afterwards it is too late. If the boat cannot be identified, you depend on your own hull policy, so check it before you go.
Do I need proof of insurance for the transit?
Yes. It is part of the paperwork the agent checks, and canal authorities expect adequate liability. A certificate in several languages avoids delays. It is also sensible to tell your insurer about the planned transit a little in advance.
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