The Threat of a New Drought Forces the Panama Canal Authority to Take Precautionary Measures

The Panama Canal Authority is once again looking to the sky with fear. It has already announced that it will reduce the maximum draft allowed for ships transiting through the Neopanamax locks. Starting July 1, the limit will drop from 50 to 49.5 feet, a measure aimed at anticipating a new drought period.

The decision has been made as a precautionary measure following weather forecasts that predict another drought period, similar to what occurred during 2023 and 2024. The expected weather phenomenon is known as "El Niño" and could drastically reduce precipitation and affect water levels.

Currently, traffic in the canal is at record levels. According to their published data, the number of transits has increased by about 8% this year, driven by the growth of oil, gas, and goods transportation between the United States and Asia due to the conflict in the Middle East.

The Canal Authority has assured that it will continue to monitor the weather evolution and will review forecasts weekly to decide if new measures are necessary in the coming months.

Photo: Panama Canal Authority