Panama Canal to Increase Daily Booking Slots to 33 Starting October 15

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 28, the Panama Canal Authority announced adjustments to vessel transit arrangements. Starting October 15, the daily booking slots for the Neopanamax locks will increase from 9 to 10, bringing the total number of daily booking slots on the Panama Canal to 33. The adjustment is based on the current water level of Gatun Lake and subsequent water level forecasts.

At the same time, the maximum authorized draft for vessels in the Neopanamax locks has been raised from 14.63 meters to 14.94 meters, or from 48 feet to 49 feet. The new standard took effect immediately on September 28, with its duration to be announced separately. The Panama Canal Authority directly links this adjustment to recent near-average rainfall in the canal watershed, the effectiveness of water-saving measures in the locks, and changes in the water level of Gatun Lake.

The Panama Canal had previously tightened transit arrangements repeatedly due to lower-than-expected rainfall in the watershed. At the end of August, the Authority announced that starting September 3, daily booking slots for the Neopanamax locks would be adjusted to 9, and the booking capacity of the Panamax locks would be reduced in phases; it also once planned to further lower the allowable draft for the Neopanamax locks. In early September, based on new lake water levels and weather forecasts, the Authority decided to maintain the 14.63-meter draft restriction and postpone the further reduction previously planned for implementation.

After this round of adjustments, the Panama Canal's transit booking capacity has recovered somewhat from the restricted level in early September, but the water resource deficit in the canal watershed still exists. The Panama Canal Authority made clear that the booking system remains the only way for vessels to obtain a confirmed transit date, and vessels that fail to secure a booking slot may face uncertain waiting times. The Authority will continue to adjust transit slots and vessel draft restrictions based on rainfall, watershed inflows, and changes in the water level of Gatun Lake.