Panama Canal increases draft and number of transits

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) said the maximum authorised draught has been raised from 14.02 m to 14.63 m as of 11 July.

A new booking slot for the Neopanamax locks will be added from 5 August, bringing the total number of transits to 35 ships per day. And the daily transit slots are expected to increase to 36 beginning in September, according to the canal’s deputy administrator.

These build on improvements announced earlier in June, which included an increase in daily transits from 32 to 33 beginning 11 July, revised upwards to 34 transits on 22 July. ACP said the continued progression is informed by the current and projected water levels of Gatun Lake, and the arrival of the rainy season.

Water worries

Under typical water level conditions, the Panama Canal has capacity for 34 to 38 daily transits, but as readers will recall, Panama experienced its third-driest year on record in 2023, forcing authorities to cull transits throughout the year and into early 2024, due to low water levels.

The impact of the prolonged dry season continues to managed. In a statement, ACP said, “Despite the arrival of the rainy season, the challenge of water for Panama and the Panama Canal remains and serves as a reminder that climate change and its effects are a reality requiring immediate attention and concrete action.”

Despite the challenges, the Canal reported that 1,799 vessels transited the expanded canal between October 2023 and May 2024. About 1,123 (62%) were container ships. 

An era of increased capacity

The latest increase was announced on 26 June 2024, the eighth anniversary of the Canal’s expansion. The expansion was the largest enhancement project undertaken since the Panama Canal began functioning in 1914, opening the waterway to 90% of the world’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels for the first time, while allowing customers to transport a greater volume of cargo in fewer trips.

Although the Neopanamax locks were initially expected to accommodate vessels with a maximum of 12,600 TEU, the Panama Canal soon surpassed this threshold and has welcomed larger vessels such as CMA CGM’s 16,285-TEU box ship, Zephyr and Evergreen’s 17,312-TEU Ever Max, the largest capacity vehicle carrier in the world, Höegh Target and twin cruise ships Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore. 

More than 25,000 vessels have transited the Neopanamax locks since 2016.

“This anniversary is distinct from previous ones, since we have had to adapt our operations following the recent drought and the climatic variability affecting water levels at Lakes Gatun and Alhajuela. In this critical period, we have prioritised the well-being of the population, guaranteeing the supply of drinking water and, on the other hand, ensuring the reliability of the service to our customers,” said Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez Morales.