Panama Canal Authority Increases Daily Ship Transits From 32 To 33

The Panama Canal Authority has announced significant modifications to its transit and draft policies, which will take effect in the coming weeks.

The maximum permitted canal draft will be increased from 45 to 46 feet beginning June 15.

The adjustment comes as the Panama Canal prepares to allow larger vessels in response to increasing global shipping demands.

Furthermore, beginning July 11, 2024, the daily transits across the canal will increase from 32 to 33, with an additional 34 transits scheduled from July 22 onwards.

The increase is directly related to the rising water levels in Gatun Lake and the beginning of the rainy season in the canal’s watershed.

The changes are vital for maintaining operational efficiency and meeting the canal’s capacity demands while it recovers from a period of reduced throughput caused by severe drought conditions.

The Panama Canal Authority stated that with such progressive increases, the Canal will have added two transits to the current schedule.

This involves increasing daily transits via the Panamax locks to 25 and the neopanamax locks to 9 by July 22, in accordance with the canal’s design standards.

The current measures represent a significant shift from earlier restrictions imposed during the region’s worst drought on record.

During this period, daily transits were severely reduced, affecting global trade logistics and emphasizing the canal’s vulnerability to extreme weather events like El Niño.

The Panama Canal Authority will continue to be watchful, monitoring daily weather conditions to implement operational changes as needed swiftly.

The authority’s proactive approach demonstrates its dedication to adaptability in managing one of the world’s most critical maritime passageways.

In addition to operational improvements, incoming Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has emphasized the canal’s strategic importance, promising legislative action to strengthen its resistance to future droughts.

Proposed measures include the installation of massive water reservoirs to protect water levels required for continued canal operations.

Reference: Panama Canal

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Source: Maritime Shipping News