In a move aimed at conserving the canal’s limited water supply, the Panama Canal Authority has announced that the number of vessels passing through will be cut from 36 to 32 per day, effective 15 September.
The decision comes amid an exceptionally dry El Niño season that has already strained the canal’s reservoirs. While water‑saving measures are already in place, the authority says further action is needed to support the longevity of its transit operations.
Shipping companies have meanwhile been juggling disruptions caused by the Iran war, which already reduced flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The canal, which cuts travel between the Atlantic and Pacific, sees roughly 14,000 ships each year and is a vital income source for Panama, earning about $3 billion annually.
The ACP’s call for fewer transits follows last year’s similar action when the country experienced its driest October since records began in 1950. Strong forecasts suggest this year’s El Niño could be the strongest ever recorded, compounding weather, food and economic disruptions worldwide.
