The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has pulled back from a threatened reduction in transits, as rainfall improves. It will increase the number of daily transits to 24 as of next January. The measure will be effective 16 January 2024 and remain in place until further notice.
Currently, 22 vessels transit daily, divided into six neopanamaxes and 16 panamaxes as a restriction measure due to the water low levels of Gatun Lake, provoked by the drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon. The move up to 24 transits in mid-January while an improvement is still well below the normal number of 36 daily.
October 2023 was the driest month in the Canal watershed in history. In anticipation of the possibility of a worsening situation in November and December, the decision was taken on October 30, to progressively adjust the number of daily transits to 24 in November; 22 in December; 20 in January and 18 in February.
Source: seatrade-maritime.com