The Panama Canal Authority has announced two significant updates to its operations, From August 5, 2024, the maximum allowable draft for vessels transiting the Neopanamax Locks is increased to 49.0 feet (14.94 meters). This adjustment follows the stabilization of Gatun Lake’s water levels, which had been impacted by a prolonged drought.
The increase in draft capacity is an improvement from the previous adjustment of 48 feet (14.63 meters) implemented on July 11, 2024. This change is part of the Canal’s efforts to adapt to environmental conditions while maintaining service reliability. Additionally, a new booking slot for the Neopanamax Locks has been introduced, increasing the total number of transits to 35 vessels per day, starting August 5, 2024.
In a further development, the Panama Canal has introduced a Long-Term Slot Allocation (LoTSA) Method for Neopanamax vessels as part of the Transit Booking System. This new method aims to enhance transit certainty and flexibility for clients by offering several slot booking packages for January of the following year. This system allows clients to secure multiple bookings in a single transaction.
Under the LoTSA method, packages will include a specific number of slots with weekly or monthly frequencies per year, available for both northbound and southbound transits. These packages will be detailed in the Booking Slot Projected Availability published on the Canal’s website, pancanal .com, and awarded through an auction process. The auction will begin on September 2, 2024, with bids starting at $200,000 USD per slot.
The auction will be divided into four periods:
- Period 1: Bookings 90 days before transit.
- Period 1A: Bookings from 30 to 15 days.
- Period 2: Bookings between 14 and 8 days.
- Period 3: Bookings from 7 to 2 days.
The LoTSA method aims to increase flexibility and predictability for clients, reflecting the Canal’s commitment to adapting to the maritime industry’s evolving needs. Auctions will cover booking dates from January 5, 2025, to January 3, 2026.
Water levels in Gatun Lake and Alhajuela Lake are gradually improving, with Gatun Lake at 85.02 feet (25.91 meters) and Alhajuela Lake at 217.24 feet (66.21 meters). The Canal continues to monitor these levels and will announce future draft adjustments as needed.
About the Panama Canal
The Panama Canal, an engineering marvel stretching approximately 80 kilometers between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, serves as a critical link between North America and South America. Constructed in one of the narrowest areas of the continent, the Canal facilitates global maritime trade through its intricate system of locks.
The Canal’s locks – Gatun, Pedro Miguel, and Miraflores – function as water lifts, elevating ships from sea level to the level of Gatun Lake, which is 26 meters above sea level. The dimensions of the lock chambers are 33.53 meters wide by 304.8 meters long, accommodating vessels up to 32.3 meters wide, with a draft of up to 12 meters in tropical fresh water, and a length of up to 294.1 meters.
Water for the locks is sourced from Gatun Lake, utilizing gravity to move vessels between different elevations. The Canal’s narrowest section, the Culebra Cut, extends 13.7 kilometers from the Pedro Miguel Locks to Gatun Lake, excavated through rock and limestone.
Each year, the Panama Canal facilitates the transit of between 13,000 and 14,000 ships, connecting over 180 maritime routes and serving more than 1,920 ports across 170 countries. The Canal operates 24/7, year-round, with a dedicated workforce of approximately 9,000 employees, ensuring seamless transit services for global maritime traffic.
Source The Panama Canal Authority