The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has begun rolling back restrictions imposed over the summer to conserve water amid a developing El Niño, citing improved rainfall in the canal’s watershed. The maximum authorized draft for vessels using the Neopanamax locks has been increased immediately to 49 feet (14.94 meters) Tropical Fresh Water, up from 48 feet, reversing a reduction that had been phased in since July. Effective October 15, the ACP will also add a tenth daily Neopanamax transit slot, lifting combined capacity across the Neopanamax and Panamax locks to 33 vessels per day.
The reversal follows a summer in which precipitation at the canal watershed ran roughly 34% below historical averages between May and August, prompting the ACP to cut daily transit capacity for only the second time in the waterway’s history. Gatun Lake has since risen from 84.04 feet on September 1 to 84.74 feet by September 27, which officials credited to near-average rainfall alongside water-saving measures implemented at the locks. The ACP cautioned that the watershed remains in deficit and that Panama’s meteorological institute still projects below-average rainfall for October and November, meaning further adjustments remain possible depending on lake levels. The relief comes as disruptions around the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz continue to drive elevated demand for alternative trade routes through Panama, particularly for LNG carriers and large containerships.
Source: The Maritime Executive — https://maritime-executive.com/article/panama-canal-eases-restrictions-adding-transit-slot-and-maximum-draft
Tags: Panama Canal, Gatun Lake, El Niño, LNG Carriers
