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Panama Canal suspends second draught restriction

The Panama Canal is suspending the second update to the maximum draught allowable at the neo-panamax locks, published 19 March.

Michele Labrut, Americas Correspondent

April 17, 2020

1 Min Read
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Recent rainfall in the Canal watershed has allowed the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) to suspend the draught reduction announced in Advisory to Shipping A-09-2020, which was scheduled to become effective 17 April 2020.

As a result, and based on the present and projected level of Gatun Lake for the following weeks, the ACP said that the maximum authorised draught for the Neopanamax locks will remain at 13.87m (45.5 feet) Tropical Fresh Water (TFW) until 30 April 2020.

Thereafter, effective 1 May 2020, the maximum authorised draught for the neo-panamax locks will be 13.72m (45.0 feet) TFW, until further notice.

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.

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