The Panama Canal Authority said on Monday it will increase daily booking slots at its Neopanamax locks from 9 to 10 starting October 15, supported by "improving water conditions and favorable hydrological projections", raising total daily capacity to 33 transit slots across all locks.
The authority also increased the maximum authorized draft for vessels transiting the Neopanamax locks at 14.94 meters (49.0 feet), effective September 29.
The increase is daily capacity walks back the Canal authority's previous reductions in transit through the waterway, as the interoceanic route prepared for a longer-than-usual El Niño season expected to lower water levels.
Customer limitations on the number of slots per booking date or week have been removed, and consecutive date bookings are now allowed, the authority said in a statement.
Vessels without a transit reservation may experience indefinite delays, as the booking system remains the only mechanism to guarantee a transit date.
In early September, the Canal authority had postponed a planned reduction in maximum authorized draft for its Neopanamax locks, citing higher-than-expected water levels and favorable weather projections.
Draft is the depth of water a ship needs to float safely; a lower draft limit means vessels may have to carry less cargo in order to pass through the canal.
(Reuters)
