Panama Canal Increases Ship Transits as Water Levels Normalize

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced an increase in the number of large ships transiting the canal, thanks to the recovery of freshwater reservoir levels. This improvement allows the canal to open additional booking slots for larger vessels starting in August.

The ACP will add one more slot for neo-Panamax vessels, bringing the total to nine daily transits for this largest class of ships that can use the canal. Additionally, from the last week of July, an extra booking slot will be available for super-Panamax vessels, increasing the total to 19 daily transits for these slightly smaller ships. This expansion will allow the Panama Canal to handle 35 ships per day starting in August, a significant increase from the 24 slots available at the beginning of May​.

This development comes after a period of drought that severely affected water levels in Gatun Lake, a crucial freshwater source for the canal’s lock system. The drought had reduced the number of daily ship transits to as few as 18 last October, prompting shipping companies to reroute their trans-Pacific networks. The recent rains have replenished the lake to its five-year average depth of about 83 feet, allowing the ACP to lift some restrictions​.

The improved water levels have also led to the easing of draft restrictions on neo-Panamax vessels, enabling them to carry more cargo with a draft limit increased from 45 feet to 48 feet. This adjustment further enhances the canal’s capacity to accommodate larger shipments, benefiting global trade routes that depend on this critical passage​ ​.

However, this positive outlook comes with concerns about future water management and environmental impacts. The canal’s reliance on rainwater underscores the vulnerability of this key shipping route to climate change and variability in weather patterns​.