Due to a severe drought, the Panama Canal has been imposing increasingly strict measures. The waterway’s draft will be reduced by approximately 2 meters starting next month, with authorities warning that daily transits may have to be reduced by up to 25% to save water.
According to The Panama Canal Authority (ACP), the maximum authorized draft of 13.26 m (43.5 feet) TFW in the neopanamax locks will be in effect for June 25, 2023. The maximum authorized drafts for the following weeks are summarized in the following table:
The El Niño phenomenon also poses a threat to the Canal. El Niño is a climate phenomenon that causes the tropical Pacific Ocean to warm on a regular basis. When this happens, El Niño alters the rainfall pattern in various parts of the world.
The ACP noted that it will continue to monitor the level of Gatun Lake and announce future draft adjustments in a timely manner.
