Panama Restricts Draft of Vessels in the Canal

The canal’s lower water levels mean a ship’s maximum draft will drop from 39.5 feet to 39 feet on September 8, the Panama Canal Authority announced in a shipping advisory.

El Niño is a disruption of the ocean-atmosphere system in the Tropical Pacific which has important consequences for weather and climate around the globe.

Draught restrictions in Gatun Lake may impact nearly a fifth of the transits through the Panama Canal. “These measures are being taken to ensure the continuous and safe operations of the canal during this period”, said the ACP, which estimates that 18.5% of vessel transits involve vessels with draughts of greater than 11.89 m.

SUNTRACS, the largest union representing workers on the Panama Canal expansion project, said it planned to declare a strike to press the Grupo Unidos por el Canal, or GUPC, consortium for a pay increase. The new rule would be imposed from 16 September. “Should further draft restrictions be confirmed, notice will be given at least four weeks in advance to allow time for customers for proper planning”.

Moreover, improvements in rainfall may result in the lifting of the scheduled draft restriction.

Work on an ambitious expansion of the Panama Canal risks grinding to a halt again because of a labor dispute, the waterway’s manager said Monday.

Originally scheduled for completion last year, the canal project is now only expected to be ready in April 2016.

Once completed, PSA Panama will have an annual handling capacity of two million TEU containers.