Due to a year of drought caused by the El Nino that has affected weather in the eastern Pacific, Caribbean and North Atlantic –and particularly Central America – the Panama Canal Authority has had a dearth of water to operate the canals.
Each transit of the canals requires a million gallons of water, which is supplied from Gatun Lake. The lake is replenished by rainfall but during droughts supplies dwindle and canal transits have to be curtailed.
At the most severe drought level, the canal was limited to 17 transits per day. Ship traffic built up and cargo delivery were times delayed. Since 5% pf world maritime trade and 40 percent of U.S. container traffic passes through the canal, these delays fueled inflation in the post pandemic recovery.
For cruisers heading west to the Pacific or east to the Caribbean, reduced transits mean much longer waiting periods before a slot for a yacht opened up. And, delays and scare transit slots drove up the cost.
As of June 15, the Canal Authority will raise the number of daily transits to 32, greatly easing pressure on shipping companies and the yachting community as well. Read more here.
