Panama Canal restrictions expected to last for at least ten months; large containers to reroute to

[Judi Lynn]

Panama Canal restrictions expected to last for at least ten months; large containers to reroute to Suez Canal

Tuesday, August 29th 2023 - 06:55 UTCFull article0 comment



Panama Canal have cut draft restrictions for ships transiting neo-panamax locks by 2 m as well as slashing the volume of daily transits by 20% to 32 vessels a day

Global shipping has been urged to share transit plans at one of the world’s key maritime crossings following on Panama Canal Authority officials warning that water-conserving restrictions will be in place for at least the next 10 months, given this year's unprecedented drought which Panama is experiencing.

As a consequence of the drought and the onset of the El Niño weather phenomenon, administrators at the Panama Canal have cut the draft restrictions for ships transiting its larger neo-panamax locks by 2 m as well as slashing the volume of daily transits by 20% to just 32 vessels a day. These measures have seen ships queuing up in significant numbers at both ends of the canal. The official count of ships waiting to cross on Monday midday was 129, down from the peak of 165 earlier this month, but still 43% higher than the average.

The canal’s deputy administrator, Ilya Espino, said on Sunday the restrictions would remain in place for at least the next 10 months, throughout the first half of next year.

Container services and cruise itineraries tend to transit the canal with long advanced bookings. For bulk sectors, it is more ad hoc and with shorter notice, and it is has been here that the impact has been greater this month, where it might not be possible to obtain an advanced booking and therefore joining the queue is necessary.

More:
https://en.mercopress.com/2023/08/29/panama-canal-restrictions-expected-to-last-for-at-least-ten-months-large-containers-to-reroute-to-suez-canal