Panama Canal Ship Depth Adjusted On Drought

The Panama Canal will expand restrictions on the largest ships crossing the waterway amid shallower waters due to drought, the canal authority's administrator said.

• The new restrictions will take effect Sunday, limiting neo-Panamax container ships to a depth limit of 13.3meters, from previously 13.41meters, meaning these ships must carry less cargo or shed weight.
• Panamax ships, which use the canal's older locks, will also face tighter rules on 9 July.
• The measure follows a series of depth restrictions in the canal since the beginning of the year due to a drought, which authorities had hoped would ease by the start of the Central American country's rainy season.
• Ship traffic, including container ships and oil tankers, using the canal between the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean accounts for about 3.5% of global trade.
• The limits will not affect LNG carriers.