Sponsored By

Panama Canal increases daily transits to 24 from 16 January

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has pulled back from a threatened reduction in transits to just 18 daily from the 1 February next year as rainfall improves.

Michele Labrut, Americas Correspondent

December 18, 2023

2 Min Read
Panama Canal neopanamax locks
Panama Canal

In a Notice to Shippers the ACP said it will increase the number of daily transits to 24 as of next January “because the November rains were not as deficient as those in October, coupled with the results of the water saving measures and restrictions implemented.”

The measure will be effective 16 January 2024 and remain in place until further changes in condtion

Currently, 22 vessels transit daily, divided into six neopanamaxes and 16 panamaxes as a restriction measure due to the water low levels of Gatun Lake, provoked by the drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon. The move up to 24 transits in mid-January while an improvement is still well below the normal number of 36 daily.

October 2023 was the driest month in the Canal watershed in history. In anticipation of the possibility of a worsening situation in November and December, the decision was taken on October 30, to progressively adjust the number of daily transits to 24 in November; 22 in December; 20 in January and 18 in February.  

 

Vessel Type       Usual Scenario  Current Scenario    January 2024

Neopanamax         10                         6                                7

Panamax               26                        16                               17

TOTAL                   36                        22                               24

Related:Container lines expect greater Panama Canal disruption

The Panama Canal said it will limit to one booking quota per customer per date, with some exceptions, for quotas offered to vessels competing through the booking system, giving the vessels wishing to transit the Canal to have a better chance of obtaining a reservation.

There are just 23 vessels without reservations waiting as of December 15 and another 41 with slots booked now in the queue and the authority has been encouraging more companies to book slots to ease the waiting time.

This year 2023 has been the second driest year in the recorded history of the Panama Canal watershed, the Canal has implemented an operational strategy focused on water conservation and transit reliability in the face of low rainfall and consequent lower lake levels.  

These measures, together with direct communication with customers and the country, have been fundamental in adapting to the difficult climatic circumstances.

About the Author

Michele Labrut

Americas Correspondent

Michèle Labrut is a long-time Panama resident, a journalist and correspondent, and has continuously covered the maritime sector of Central & Latin America.

Michèle first came to Panama as a press attaché to the French Embassy and then returned to the isthmus as a foreign correspondent in the 1980s.

Author of Seatrade Maritime's annual Panama Maritime Review magazine and of several books, Michèle also wrote for Time magazine, The Miami Herald, NBC News and the Economist Intelligence Unit. She has also collaborated in making several documentaries for the BBC and European and U.S. television networks.

Michèle's profession necessitates a profound knowledge of the country, but her acumen is not from necessity alone, but a genuine passion for Panama.

In 2012 she was awarded the Order of Merit (Knight grade) by the French Government for her services to international journalism and in 2021 the upgrade to Chevalier grade.

Get the latest maritime news, analysis and more delivered to your inbox
Join 12,000+ members of the maritime community

You May Also Like