Panama Canal announces new increase in draft and daily transit

The Panama Canal announced, through an Advisory to Shipping, that it will increase the current number of daily transits from 32 to 33, effective July 11. Furthermore, this number will increase to 34 as of July 22, following the current and projected level of Gatun Lake for the coming weeks, and due to the arrival of the rainy season in the Panama Canal Watershed.

With these progressive increases, by July 22 the Canal will have added two transits to the current schedule: one to the panamax locks (raising the daily transits to 25), and one to the neopanamax locks (increasing daily transits to 9). Additionally, an increase in draft from 45 to 46 feet was announced, effective June 15.

Current Scenario Effective July 11 Effective July 22
Panamax Locks 24 24 25
Neopanamax Locks 8 9 9
Total 32 33 34

The Panama Canal continues to monitor weather conditions on a daily basis in order to implement the necessary operational actions in the event of increased rainfall in its watershed.