Solid amounts of rain have allowed
the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) to add three extra slots per day at its
panamax locks, taking
the total daily maximum transits to 27, still more than 10 shy of the
waterway’s normal maximum, but a sign that the worst is over from the record
drought that has been plaguing the canal since June last year.
Two additional slots will be offered
through auction for transit dates beginning March 18, and an additional slot
will become available for transit dates beginning March 25.
When
operating at full capacity the canal can handle up to 40 vessels a day. As well
as cutting daily transits the Panama Canal Authority has also slashed the maximum
draft at its larger locks by close to 2 m.
There are currently 54 ships waiting
to transit the canal.
Over the
past 10 months a huge swathe of the global merchant fleet has decided to avoid
the waterway over the long queues and high toll fees.