Panama Canal Ends Depth Restrictions

 

On April 18, Panama Canal started imposing restrictions on the depth of ships passing through because of lower water levels caused by a severe drought.

 

The measure trims ships' maximum allowed draft - the distance from the waterline to the bottom of the hull - by 5.9 inches (15 centimetres), from the usual 39.5 feet (12.04 metres) to 39 feet.

 

Three years of drought have badly depleted water in the canal, through which around 35 to 40 cargo ships pass every day. Some five per cent of world maritime traffic travels through the canal.

 

Now that the start of the tropical rainy season had brought the water back up, meaning the ships' maximum draft — the distance from the waterline to the bottom of the hull — was restored to the usual 12.04 metres.

 

Around 35 to 40 cargo ships a day pass through the canal, which accounts for five percent of the world's maritime commercial traffic.