PANAMA-TRANSPORT-CANAL/ – REUTERS Agency
PANAMA CITY, Sept 30 (Reuters) – The Panama Canal, one of the main routes for global maritime trade, announced that it will reduce daily ship crossings from November to 31, from the current 32, the latest in a series of measures implemented in the midst of a severe drought that is estimated to last until next year.
In recent months, the route, through which around 5% of world trade transits, has imposed various restrictions on passage, including a reduction in the draft allowed to ships and a reduction in the maximum number of ships authorized to pass through per day from 36. under normal conditions.
“Continuing to manage its operations to obtain maximum performance from water availability in the extreme drought condition that the country is experiencing (…) the Canal announced that as of November 1, the average number of transits through the Canal will be adjusted to 31 transits per day,” the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) said in a statement to its clients shared on Friday night.
The ACP explained that the maximum crossings allowed will be divided as follows: nine through the Neopanamax lock and 22 through the Panamax.
Additionally, the transit reservation slots offered daily will be adjusted to a maximum of 30, eight in the Neopanamax locks and the rest in the century-old Panamax locks.
The ACP also announced that, in order to allow customers to adjust their itineraries and reduce waiting times for ships that do not have a reservation, from October 4 to 31, reservation slots will be limited to a total of 14. in the Panamax locks.
“The announced measures are in response to the water shortage, among other actions for the management of water resources and effective administration of transits, which have allowed customers’ waiting times to be stabilized,” added the ACP.
Experts have warned of possible disruption to maritime trade ahead of what is shaping up to be an even drier period next year. They argue that a possible early start to the dry season in Panama and above-average temperatures could increase evaporation and lead to near-record water levels in April.
The restrictions have generated long queues of waiting vessels, although the canal administration said levels were normal on Friday. The effects have led the channel to estimate a reduction in income for 2024, of up to 200 million dollars less. (Reporting by Elida Moreno; Editing by Diego Oré)
Source: Ambito
