How Many US Warships Pass Through the Panama Canal?

Although international media reports that Panama will not charge tolls to ships of the United States Navy (US) that transit through the Interoceanic Canal, the reality is that the transit of these ships through the waterway is minimal and on average there are 38 per year.  From 1998 to the close of fiscal year 2024 (26 years), of the 373,039 vessels that transited the canal, 994 (0.3%) correspond to transits by warships and submarines of the United States Navy.  In 2023, the canal collected an average of $341,000 per vessel, compared to $215k in 2018, an increase of 59%.  Based on the average price per ship, US Navy vessels should have paid annual tolls of $12.9 million. Truly what has been promised to the US Government at this time from the ACP in Panama is, the canal administration guaranteed expedited passage to ships of the United States Navy, and not for free, at least officially.