Panama Canal reduces daily ship traffic due to El Niño

The Panama Canal administration reported that starting in September, daily ship traffic will be reduced from 36 to 32 vessels. This decision is a response to the impacts of the drought caused by the weather phenomenon known as El Niño.

The first restrictions went into effect on September 3, with a new reduction beginning on September 15. The measure is necessary due to decreased water levels in the watershed of the Canal, which have been affected by lower-than-expected rainfall.

In addition to limiting the number of ships, a reduction in draft, the submerged part of the boats, is already in effect, meaning that larger vessels face additional challenges in transiting the waterway.

Canal management emphasized that these actions are essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of transit operations, citing the need to preserve local water resources.

Several media outlets reported that this decision alters a previous promise from Canal management, which had stated it would not implement restrictions on ship passage in response to the situation.

It is estimated that the Panama Canal is a vital route for global trade, with between 3% and 5% of world trade transiting its waters, making the implications of the restrictions significant for maritime transport.