Panama Canal Authority Increases Capacity as Water Levels Return

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has increased the number of daily transits and maximum draft of the expanded neopanamax locks, bringing the waterway one step closer to to normal operations following last year’s historic drought.

Effective immediately, vessels transiting the neopanamax locks are now allowed a maximum authorized draft of 14.94 meters (49.0 feet) Tropical Fresh Water. The ACP said the decision is based on the current and projected water levels of Gatun Lake for the upcoming weeks.

Meanwhile, as of August 5, the number of daily transits has been adjusted to 35, up from 34 as of July 22nd and 32-33 earlier in the month.

The changes bring the canal’s capacity closer to its design specifications of approximately 36 daily transits and a maximum draft of 50 feet for the neopanamax locks.

ACP data shows the water level in Gatun Lake is currently at 85 feet, which is significantly above the 79.6 feet recorded last August and higher than the previous 5-year average of 83.9 feet during the month.

ACP Deputy Administrator Ilya Espino said in an interview last week that the authority hopes for a return to 36 daily transits in September.

For over a year and a half, the Panama Canal has been operating below capacity due to one of the worst droughts on record in the Panama Canal watershed, exacerbated by last year’s strong El Nino. However, the arrival of this year’s rainy season has allowed the ACP to gradually increase both the number of daily transits and maximum drafts from recent lows of 24 transits and drafts below 44 feet. The maximum authorized draft was previously raised to 47 feet in June and 48 feet as of July 11.

“The ACP continues to monitor the level of Gatun Lake to announce future draft adjustments in a timely manner,” the agency stated in its update.

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