New reduction in ship transit through the Channel

Beginning November 1, the Panama Canal Authority will implement adjustments to average daily transits, limiting them to 31 transits per day. Of these, nine will be through the Neopanamax lock, and 22 through the locks into Panamax.

Also, changes are introduced to the reservation system, including the new operating condition 5. Under this condition, a maximum of 30 daily reservations are offered: eight for Neopanamax locks and the rest for Panamax locks.

In order to allow users to adjust their itineraries and reduce the waiting time for non-reserved vessels, condition 3 will apply from October 4 to 31, which will limit reservation slots at Panamax locks to 14.

These measures aim to manage the number of vessels waiting and ensure that those en route or queuing, without a reservation, can pass within a reasonable time.

These decisions respond to water shortages and are part of a set of actions for efficient management of water resources and efficient management of transit, which contributed to the stabilization of waiting times for users.

It is important to emphasize that, despite the adverse weather conditions, the Panama Canal has kept the number of ships waiting within normal levels for this time, thanks to efficient management and the dedication of its workforce.