The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced that it will gradually increase the number of ships allowed to transit the canal each day.
The ACP said that it will allow up to 32 ships per day to pass through the canal starting June, up from the current limit of 27. This follows an earlier increase from 24 to 27 daily transits as of March 25th.
The canal, a crucial shipping route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, has faced challenges due to a severe drought in 2023 that was exacerbated by the El Niño weather pattern. The low water levels forced officials to restrict the number of vessels and their maximum draft (depth) to conserve the limited resources.
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However, with the arrival of the rainy season expected in late April, the ACP is optimistic that water levels in the canal’s Gatun Lake will continue to improve. “Current forecasts indicate that steady rainfall will arrive in late April and continue for a few months,” the ACP said in an advisory.
If the rainfall meets expectations, the ACP plans to further increase the daily transits to 31 starting on May 16th, and then to 32 on June 1st. The maximum draft for vessels using the canal’s Neopanamax locks will also be raised from 44 feet to 45 feet on June 15th.
The ACP aims to return the canal to its full capacity of 36 daily transits by the beginning of 2025, provided the water situation continues to improve as forecasted.
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