Panama Canal begins reducing crossings due to El Nino

The Panama Canal commenced lowering the quantity of ships navigating through its waters on Friday due to a drought induced by the El Nino weather phenomenon, according to the Panama Canal Authority. This action stems from reduced water levels in the two artificial lakes that supply the canal with water, necessitating a reduction in vessel access. The number of vessels permitted to traverse the Atlantic-Pacific oceanic conduit will be gradually decreased from 36 daily to 32 by mid-September.

Panama has declared a nationwide emergency in response to the El Nino, a weather pattern emerging over the Pacific Ocean that is inducing global shifts in winds, atmospheric pressure, and rainfall, and exacerbating global temperatures. This year's El Nino is anticipated to be the most intense since records were first kept four decades ago. Although it has not yet reached its peak, Central America is already grappling with a severe drought, prompting Honduras and El Salvador to likewise declare emergencies.

The Panama Canal, which manages 5% of global maritime trade and approximately 40% of US container traffic, has already implemented other water-saving measures, such as reducing the maximum draft for the largest ships. In 2023, El Nino prompted the canal authority to limit the number of daily crossings to 22 vessels.