The Panama Canal Authority will reduce the number of daily ship transits from 36 to 32 beginning in September, citing persistent drought conditions that have depleted water reserves critical to the waterway's lock system.
The adjustment follows a 34% shortfall in rainfall between May and August compared with historical averages, the canal authority said. Despite ongoing conservation measures and the current rainy season, additional precautionary steps are required to safeguard long-term operational sustainability, the authority stated.
The canal, an 82-kilometer artificial waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, relies on freshwater releases with each ship passage. El Niño conditions are expected to further reduce precipitation in the region through 2026-27, increasing pressure on water availability as the dry season approaches in January.
Authorities emphasized the need for measured water use and close monitoring to maintain sufficient reserves during the upcoming dry period.
