The Panama Canal has raised daily traffic and draft restrictions

According to the Shipping Network, on June 26th local time, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced that with the arrival of the rainy season, starting from August 5th, the new lock will add an appointment period, increasing the daily limit of ships passing through the lock to 35.

ACP announced that starting today, the maximum draft allowed for ships to pass through the waterway will be increased from 46 feet to 47 feet, and it is expected to further increase to 48 feet (14.63 meters) on July 11th.

The expanded Panama Canal began operation on June 26, 2016. Given its advantageous geographical location, the Panama Canal greatly shortens the sailing time from coastal ports in the US Gulf to Asia, providing shipping companies, retailers, manufacturers, and consumers with more choices, better maritime services, and enhancing the reliability and resilience of the supply chain. The newly expanded ship lock can not only allow more than 90% of LNG transport ships to pass through, but also allow 17000 TEU of ultra large container ships to pass through.

Under optimal conditions, an average of 35 to 36 ships pass through the Panama Canal every day. However, due to the prolonged seasonal drought in 2023, exacerbated by the El Ni ñ o phenomenon, ACP has been forced to limit the number of ships passing through in order to prioritize the protection of domestic water for residents. The traffic volume even dropped to 18 ships in February this year.

ACP stated that on the occasion of celebrating the 8th anniversary of the canal expansion, with the arrival of the rainy season, ACP announced an increase in draft and daily transit volume, which means that normal operations will basically resume while continuing to address the impact of climate change and the challenge of ensuring water use in the future. This reminds us that climate change and its impacts are a reality that requires immediate attention and concrete action.

The Director of the Panama Canal Authority, Ricaurte V á squez Morales, said, "This year's anniversary is different from previous years. Due to drought and climate impacts, we have had to adjust our operations. During this critical period, we prioritize the well-being of the people, ensure the supply of drinking water, and at the same time, ensure the reliability of our services to our customers."