Panama Canal Authority Delays Draft Cut Plan for Neopanamax Locks

The plan to lower the maximum draft at the Panama Canal’s Neopanamax Locks has been postponed, according to an advisory from the Panama Canal Authority on Sept. 4.

Originally, the maximum draft was to be lowered to 47.5 feet from 48.0 feet from Oct. 1.

The Panama Canal Authority, or ACP, said in the advisory the decision was due to “the current Gatun Lake levels and the latest weather projections.”

Shippers have increasingly turned to the Central America waterway since the Middle East war and disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

As reported previously by OPIS, drought conditions in the region saw the canal implement transit cuts, with daily slots reduced to 34 for booking dates beginning Sept. 4, while slots for booking dates from mid-September are set to fall further to 32.

The ACP will continue to monitor water levels and adjust drafts restrictions accordingly.

Reporting by Tom Sosnowski, tsosnowski@opisnet.com; Editing by Michael Kelly, mkelly@opisnet.com