Aug 5 (Reuters) – The Panama Canal said on Wednesday it will tighten limits on how heavily loaded large ships can be in the coming weeks, as water levels and weather conditions continue to put pressure on the key trade route.
The canal authority said ships using its larger Neopanamax locks will face a maximum draft of 14.63 meters (48 feet) from August 26 and 14.48 meters (47.5 feet) from September 3 until further notice. Draft is the depth of water a ship needs to float safely, so a lower draft limit means vessels may have to carry less cargo in order to pass through the canal.
• The authority said the decision was based on the current level of Gatun Lake – which supplies the water needed to lift and lower ships through the canal’s locks – and recent weather projections.
• The canal also said the effects of El Niño, a climate pattern that in Panama can contribute to lower rainfall and drier conditions, are still being felt.
• The authority said the rainy season has already started in Panama, but current watershed conditions still require extra water-saving steps to protect the long-term sustainability of canal operations.
• The canal said it is not currently reducing the number of ships allowed to transit either the Neopanamax or Panamax locks. But it warned that weather conditions are changing more quickly than previously expected and said further operational changes could be announced.
(Reporting by Kylie Madry; Editing by Iñigo Alexander)
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