News
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) last week postponed a planned reduction of the maximum authorized draft for vessels transiting the Neopanamax Locks, maintaining the current 14.63-meter (48-foot) Tropical Fresh Water (TFW) limit. The reduction to 14.48 meters (47.5 feet) TFW had been scheduled to take effect on Oct. 1.
The Neopanamax Locks are the primary transit route for large container vessels serving the Asia–U.S. East Coast trade, and draft restrictions directly affect how much cargo each vessel can carry. The decision followed the authority's latest review of Gatun Lake levels and weather projections, which indicated conditions could support continued operations at the higher draft.
