Panama Canal Authority to Increase Capacity and Reduce Restrictions

The Panama Canal Authority has announced plans to increase capacity and reduce restrictions that have been affecting transits at the waterway for the past year. These efforts aim to address concerns of larger containerships and LNG carriers, with additional slots being added to both the Neopanamax and Panamax Locks in July.

By July 11, the Neopanamax Locks will have a total of nine daily transits, while the Panamax Locks will increase to 25 daily transits by July 22. This will bring the total daily transits to 34 by late July, moving closer to the goal of 36 to 39 daily transits by 2025. The Panama Canal Authority had previously considered reducing daily transits to as low as 18 during the water crisis but did not have to implement those restrictions.

To accommodate larger vessels, the maximum draft will be increased to 46 feet starting June 15. This adjustment comes after operating at 44 feet, with some vessels having to divert or transit with partial loads. The Panama Canal Authority continues to explore innovative solutions, including the construction of a new reservoir to provide capacity for an additional 11 transits. Despite challenges posed by the recent drought, the Authority remains committed to maintaining canal operations and addressing future water management issues.

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