As it celebrates the eighth anniversary of its expansion programme, the Panama Canal has announced an increase in its draught and daily transits.
In an advisory to shipping lines, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced that the maximum authorised draught had been raised from 46 to 47 feet (14.33 metres), and would increase to 48 feet (14.063 metres) on July 11.
Additionally, a new booking slot for the Neopanamax locks will be added beginning on August 5, bringing the total number of transits to 35 ships per day.
The improvements see the waterway edging closer to its design capacity of around 36-38 transits per day and a 50-foot maximum draught.
The ACP said that the present and projected level of Gatun Lake and the arrival of the rainy season had made the developments possible.
The number of daily transits and maximum draughts has been gradually increasing from recent lows of 24 transits and maximum draughts below 44 feet.
Ships from all over the world transit the original and expanded Neopanamax locks daily, with between 13 000 and 14 000 vessels passing through each year. The waterway serves more than 180 shipping routes, connecting 170 countries and approximately 1 920 ports around the world.
