The Panama Canal Is Capping How Many Ships It Takes a Day. Two Weeks Ago It Said It Would Not
Panama · SHIPPING Key Facts —The cap Advisory A-29-2026, issued 20 August, limits daily transits to 34 vessels for booking dates from 4 September, falling to 32 from 15 September. —Where it starts from The canal averaged 34.03 transits a day in July on its own figures, and about 35 through June. The first step […] The post The Panama Canal Is Capping How Many Ships It Takes a Day. Two Weeks Ago…
The Panama Canal has limited the number of ships it allows through each day, but increased the size of those vessels. Advisory A-29-2026, issued on August 20, caps daily transit to 34 vessels for dates starting September 4, and 32 vessels starting September 15. The canal has reduced the draft restriction, going from 48.0 feet on August 26 to 2 September, and 47.5 feet from September 3 to October 1.
The reason for this change is the lower-than-average rainfall in the canal's watershed, which has resulted in lower water levels. The cuts in draft restrictions are intended to offset the reduction in transit capacity, allowing more cargo per ship. The canal's management expects an El Niño that could continue into 2027, further reducing water levels.
This decision to cap ship transits has led to changes in the booking system, including auctions restructured by market segment, a limit of one booking slot per day, and the suspension of the Last-Minute Transit service. These changes make it harder and more expensive for ships to arrange crossings.
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