The Panama Canal Authority has announced measures to enhance the canal's capacity and mitigate restrictions that have affected transits for the past year. These measures include the addition of a slot to each set of locks in July, with the Neopanamax Locks receiving an additional daily slot for a total of nine daily transits starting July 11, and the Panamax Locks adding a slot for a total of 25 daily transits from July 22. Consequently, the total daily transits will rise to 34 by late July, aiming for 36 to 39 daily transits by 2025. During the height of the water crisis, transits had been reduced to 22 per day.
Significantly, the maximum draft for vessels will be increased by one foot to 46 feet as of June 15, addressing the needs of larger container ships and LNG carriers. This adjustment comes after a period of operating at a reduced draft due to water levels, with some vessels having to divert or carry partial loads. In May, the canal averaged 26 daily transits, with a peak of 32 ocean-going vessels in one day, and a total of 806 vessels transiting throughout the month.
The Panama Canal Authority is also exploring the construction of a new reservoir to provide capacity for an additional 11 transits, as part of its ongoing efforts to find innovative solutions to the challenges posed by water scarcity. Dr. Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, the Canal Authority's Administrator, has stated that there is no simple solution to these challenges, highlighting the complexity of maintaining canal operations in the face of environmental concerns.
Source: maritime-executive.com