The Panama Canal announced through a Notice to shipping companies that as of Thursday, August 15, the maximum authorized draft allowed for ships transiting through the Neopanamax locks is 50 feet (15.24 meters), based on the current and projected level of Gatun Lake for the coming weeks.
Panamax locks
Additionally, the increase of an additional transit quota for the Panamax locks was announced as of September 1, for a total of daily reservation quotas 36, in a distribution of 10 quotas for Neo-Panamax vessels and 26 for Panamax vessels.
110 years of operations
This announcement, which is part of the commemoration of the waterway’s 110 years of operations, reflects the Canal’s commitment to returning to normal operating conditions and maintaining a safe, reliable, and efficient service for our customers.
Super booking slot
It is noteworthy that a Super booking slot previously offered during Booking Period 2 will be transferred to Booking Period 1 and will be offered at the opening of the First Period Competition for booking dates beginning on November 16, 2024.
No more than ten (10) supers may be booked for transit in each direction for booking dates beginning with the tiebreaker competition at the opening of Period 2 on September 1, 2024.
Daylight restrictions
Nevertheless, depending on the vessel mix, whenever all slots in one direction have been allocated during the Second Period Competition and there are still slots available in the opposite direction, an additional slot may be allocated to interested vessels in the direction with no slot availability.
The limit in the number of vessels with daylight restrictions per direction in the Panamax Locks, published in the Advisory to Shipping A-12-2024, will remain in effect.
Gatún and Alhajuela lakes.
The Panama Canal had to adapt its operations due to the prolonged drought resulting from climatic variations that impacted the levels of Gatún and Alhajuela lakes.
Despite this situation, this last year has been one of adaptation, guaranteeing the supply of drinking water for the population and, on the other hand, ensuring the reliability of the service to the clients of the interoceanic waterway.
Read more :
Panama Canal shares the strategies implemented in the 2023-2024
Panama Canal will invest USD 1.6bn to prevent future drought
