Panamax
Can I move an empty ship from the Waiting zone into a loading zone without loading it?
Not as a standalone move. A ship from the Waiting zone moves into a loading zone only when you place its first cargo on it. A ship you build from your Clipboard is placed straight into a loading zone of your choice and may sit there empty. Once in a loading zone a ship stays there until it enters the canal; only Military ships (and the setup layout) start there without cargo.