Panama Canal increases vessel draught ahead of schedule

Last week, the Canal Authority issued an advisory document to shipping lines to inform them of the change. This adjustment, originally scheduled to take effect on 15 June, is being implemented earlier due to the expected onset of the rainy season in the Panama Canal Watershed and the current and projected levels of Gatun Lake over the coming weeks.

The Canal authority said as of 26 May, water levels of the Gatun and Alhajuela lakes have, for the first time in 2024, risen above those recorded on the same date in 2023, due to the onset of the rainy season.

Under typical water level conditions, the Panama Canal has capacity for 34 to 38 daily transits, but last year Panama experienced one of its driest years, forcing the Canal Authority to cull transits in 2023 and into early 2024, due to low water levels. 

Historically high temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, exacerbated by El Niño, delayed the start of the rainy season in Panama last year resulting in a significant decrease in the levels of freshwater in the Canal’s reservoirs. With the weather phenomenon abating and the approaching rains, authorities announced in early April the Canal would revise transit slots upwards to 27, up from the 24 allowed since December 2023.

As of 16 May, the number of daily transits in the Panamax locks increased from 17 to 24, and from 1 June the number of daily transits in the Neopanamax locks has increase from seven to eight. This new adjustment will raise the total number of vessel transits per day to 32.