(MIAMI) — In light of the prolonged effects of the dry season and in compliance with its responsibility to provide reliable and sustainable service, the Panama Canal Authority has notified its customers that it will maintain a draft of 44 feet for the next several months, as long as weather conditions do not vary significantly from current projections.
Consistent with this draft and along with this temporary condition, an average of 32 vessels per day will be allowed to transit.
As part of a worldwide phenomenon, in the past six months the canal has experienced an extended dry season with high levels of evaporation, with a high probability of an El Nino condition before the end of this calendar year.
The canal has been implementing procedures to improve water efficiency in its operations, while conducting studies to identify long-term solutions to climate variability. However, the current severity coupled with its recurrence is historically unprecedented.
The Panama Canal Authority remains committed to ensuring safe and reliable operations in the short term and optimal services for years to come.
– Panama Canal Authority
