Panama Canal begins reducing crossings due to El Nino

The Panama Canal has commenced reducing the number of ships traversing its waters due to a drought triggered by the El Nino weather phenomenon. The Panama Canal Authority announced that dwindling water levels in the two artificial lakes supplying the canal necessitated this adjustment. Initially, 36 vessels were permitted to pass through the Atlantic-Pacific oceanic conduit each day; however, this figure will be gradually reduced to 32 by mid-September.

Panama has declared a national emergency in response to the El Nino, a weather pattern impacting winds, pressure, rainfall, and global temperatures. This year's El Nino is anticipated to be the most intense since comparable records commenced four decades ago, although it has not yet reached its peak. Central America, including Honduras and El Salvador, is grappling with a severe drought, leading to similar emergency declarations.

The Panama Canal, responsible for 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 compelled the authority to decrease the daily crossings to 22 vessels.