The increase in transits occurs in response to the current and projected level of Lake Gatún.
The Panama Canal reported Monday that from this month onwards, ships will increase daily transits of ships on the interoceanic route, the only one in the world that uses fresh water and is affected by a severe drought resulting from the El Niño phenomenon, a measure that will maintain until further notice.
In a statement, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) indicated that two additional quotas will be offered by auction for the scheduled transit dates from March 18, and an additional quota will be available for scheduled transits from March 25.
He added that this new adjustment will be implemented in order to accommodate the growing demand for transits, by increasing the number of daily quotas available in the Panamax locks, operational since 1914 and through which the panamax ships pass through.
The entity explained that the increase in transits occurs – in response to the current and projected level of Lake Gatún, the main water supplier of the track that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
The specialists of the Panama Canal closely monitor the current situation of the level of the lakes, and the measures announced today (…) will remain in force until the conditions warrant changes, he revealed.
In the current scenario the daily transits are of 24 ships, of which seven neopanamaxs cross the expansion inaugurated in June 2016, and 17 panamax; and from 18-25 March the neopanamax are maintained in seven and the panamax passes to 20. Under optimal conditions the average is between 35 and 36 ships.
This article has been translated from the original which first appeared in Prensa