Panama Canal postpones seasonal draft reductions twice
Recent rainfall in Panama has sustained water levels and enabled vessels with deeper drafts to transit than initially expected.
The Panama Canal Authority typically adjusts maximum draft restrictions this time of year, but unexpectedly high water levels has led to push back the cut-off dates twice this month.
It was originally meant to limit maximum vessel drafts in its Neopanamax locks from 15.24 metres to 15.24 metres from 1 March. This downward adjustment was postponed for second time on 11 March.
In a modified schedule, the canal authority now targets draft reductions to 15.09 metres from 24 March, and 14.94 metres from 9 April.
Vessels that fail to meet these restrictions will have to “trim or off-load cargo in order to be allowed to transit,” acting vice president for operations at the Panama Canal Authority Marcia L. de Ortega said in a note last month.
About 30% of vessels transiting the canal went through the Neopanamax locks last year, with the remaining 70% going through the Panamax locks.
Nearly half of the Neopanamax lock transits were container ships, followed by LPG, LNG and dry bulk carriers.
