News
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced that it plans to reduce the maximum authorized draft for the Neopanamax locks, emphasizing that it is a precautionary step based on the lessons learned during the 2023-2024 water shortage. The restriction will lower the draft limit by half a foot to a maximum of 49.5 feet (15 meters), effective July 1.
The backlog is likely to increase in the coming days as the east lane of the Gatun Locks is closed for dry lock maintenance from June 9 to June 17. Ships will have to alternate in a single lane, with transits scheduled to fall to just 16 booked slots through the Panamax locks. It is down by approximately half versus the normal operations of up to 40 transits per day between the Neopanamax and Panamax locks.
