The administration of the Panama Canal today announced the increase to 49 feet (14.94 meters) from the date of the maximum draught allowed for ships transiting through the neopanamax locks, which allow the passage of larger ships in this navigational shortcut between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) explained in a bulletin about the warning to the shipping companies of the measure, based on the current and projected level of Lake Gatún, the main water reserve of the interoceanic road, for the coming weeks.
He stressed that the road had to adapt its operations due to the prolonged drought resulting from the climatic variations that impacted the levels of the Gatún and Alhajuela lakes.
He noted that, despite the above-mentioned situation, this past year has been adapted, guaranteeing the supply of drinking water for the population and, on the other hand, ensuring the reliability of the service to the clients of the interoceanic route.
In addition, he stressed that, as announced last June, a new reserve quota for neo-panamax locks is added from today, bringing the total number of transits to 35 ships a day.
The previous 48-foot draught adjustment came into effect on July 11.
The ACP said the rainy season is gradually taking the lakes to their optimum levels: the Gatún is now 84.97 feet, while the Alhajuela is at 217.29 feet.
This article has been translated after first appearing in El Pais