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PANAMA Canal Situation Update

Advisory

PANAMA Canal Situation Update

Dear Valued Customers,

Vessel operations are being affected by drought conditions in the Panama Canal Zone which reduce the ‘draft level’ of the canal and adjoining waterways. The following is an update for better understanding:

  • The El Niño phenomenon has caused drier conditions in the Panama Canal water basins. 
  • Since Apr 23, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced to reduce the draft levels several times .
  • This has stabilized at 13.41M (44Ft) for the Neo-Panamax from 19th June.
    (Panamax Max draft 12.04M / 39.5ft is the same as before)
  • In the end of July/beginning of August, The ACP took further actions to conserve water by reducing the number of daily transits.

 

Effective date

Maximum Transit numbers per day

Breakdown by Vessel Size

Neo-Panamax

Panamax

Before 7/29/2023

36

    10

26

After 7/30/2023

32

10

22

During 8/8 to 8/21/2023

32

10 

14(booked vessels)

8(Non-booked vessels)
  • With the restrictions, the number of available daily transit slots has been drastically reduced.

Ocean Carriers usually book the available later dates first and then request ACP for advance transits nearest to their required date.

But currently there are not many available booking slots and carriers will be facing some difficulty in booking slots.

  • THEA service loops EC1/EC2/EC6/AL5 may have impact caused by this situation
     

ONE will continue to provide relevant updates as they become available.

 

Sincerely, 

Ocean Network Express (North America) Inc.
PDF version available here