Panama schedule
The Panama schedule uses the 2-2-3 rhythm of 12-hour shifts (2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off) for four crews, and swaps each crew between days and nights every two weeks, giving a 28-day cycle. Sources don't all agree on the name: some use Panama for the fixed version too, which is drawn on the Pitman page.
| Crew | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew A | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | ||||||||||||||
| Crew B | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | ||||||||||||||
| Crew C | N | N | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | N | N | N | N | N | ||||||||||||||
| Crew D | D | D | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | D | D | D | D | D |
Cycle of 28 days, 4 crews, 42 hours a week on average. D = day shift, N = night shift, 24 = 24-hour shift.
How the Panama schedule works
- Two weeks of day shifts in the 2-2-3 rhythm, then two weeks of night shifts in the same rhythm.
- Each crew works 7 days and 7 nights every 28 days.
- Every other weekend is a three-day weekend off.
- The four crews start two weeks or one week apart, so there is always one crew on days and one on nights.
Pros
- Never more than three shifts in a row.
- Every other weekend off, as a three-day weekend.
- 42 hours a week on average.
Cons
- You switch between days and nights every two weeks.
- Short breaks of two days between some blocks.
- Weeks alternate between 60 and 24 hours.
Similar schedules
-
Pitman (2-2-3)
4 crews, 12-hour shifts, 2-2-3 rhythm on fixed days or nights.
42 hours a week on average
-
4 on 4 off, rotating days and nights
4 crews, four days, four off, four nights, four off.
42 hours a week on average
Other schedules: 24/48, 48/96, Kelly, 4/10 (four tens), 9/80
Frequently asked questions
- What is a Panama schedule?
- A 12-hour shift rotation for four crews in a 2-2-3 rhythm: 2 days on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off. In the version drawn here, crews switch between days and nights every two weeks.
- Is the Panama schedule the same as the Pitman schedule?
- They use the same 2-2-3 rhythm, and some sources use the names for the same thing. Others call the version with fixed day and night crews Pitman and the version that rotates Panama, which is what these pages do.
- Why is it called the Panama schedule?
- It's often said to come from the Panama Canal, but we found no reliable source for that.
- How many hours a week is the Panama schedule?
- 42 hours a week on average: 14 shifts of 12 hours every 28 days.
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