⚓ Clear Passage
A Podcast by CanalClear

The shipping & logistics podcast for people who move the world's cargo

Deep-dive conversations on Panama Canal operations, compliance challenges, maritime regulation, and the business of global shipping. New episodes monthly.

Episodes

Upcoming Episodes

EP 01 Coming Soon ~42 min
Navigating the New ACP Compliance Landscape in 2026
The Panama Canal Authority's 2026 regulatory overhaul changed everything — from electronic VUMPA submission mandates to stricter PCSOPEP enforcement. We break down exactly what changed, what it costs operators who miss it, and how forward-thinking fleets are adapting.
EP 02 Coming Soon ~38 min
The Hidden Costs of Manual Filing: A Captain's Perspective
A veteran Neo-Panamax captain shares what it actually looks like when a filing error surfaces at 0300 hours. The sequence of calls, the scramble, the slot loss — and why he says manual VUMPA prep is the last thing his crew should be doing before a transit.
EP 03 Coming Soon ~51 min
Canal Operations Deep Dive: Locks, Lanes & the 2026 Draft Restrictions
A former ACP operations manager pulls back the curtain on how transit scheduling actually works, why draft restrictions in 2025–2026 created a traffic backlog that cost industry $2.1B, and what the Canal's own data says about peak season slots.
EP 04 Coming Soon ~44 min
Digital Transformation in Ship Agency: Beyond the Fax Machine
Ship agents are indispensable — but the $2,000–$5,000 transit fee for what amounts to data entry is under pressure. We talk to three operators who moved from agent-dependent filing to software-first workflows, and what they'd do differently if they started today.
EP 05 Coming Soon ~46 min
PCSOPEP 2026: What Changed, What It Costs to Miss It, and How to Stay Ahead
The Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan requirements were quietly updated for 2026. Many operators don't know they're out of compliance until the Port State Control inspection. A maritime lawyer and a compliance officer walk us through the exact checklist.
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About the Show

Real conversations from inside the industry

Clear Passage is produced by CanalClear — built by people who got tired of watching vessel operators lose six figures on preventable paperwork errors. Every episode features practitioners: captains, compliance officers, port officials, and operators with skin in the game.

No fluff. No generic supply chain takes. Each episode runs 35–55 minutes and goes deep on a single operational topic that actually affects your bottom line.

Topics We Cover
📋 VUMPA Filing
⚓ Canal Operations
🛢️ PCSOPEP & MARPOL
📦 Cargo Compliance
🌊 Draft Restrictions
💡 Fleet Technology
⚖️ Maritime Law
🗺️ Route Planning