• 2 min de lectura
• 2 min de lectura
The Panama Canal announced, through a notice to shipping companies, that starting August 26, 2026, the maximum authorized draft for vessels transiting the Neopanamax locks will be 48 feet (14.63 meters), and from September 3, it will be 47.5 feet (14.48 meters).
The measure responds to the current levels and projections for Gatun Lake for the coming weeks, and is part of the water and operational management strategy developed by the interoceanic waterway to ensure the sustainability of its operations.
The draft adjustment, which does not imply changes in the number of daily transits, responds to the water resource management and conservation measures implemented since December 2025, as part of the preparations for the 2026 dry season.
This measure corresponds to the fourth and fifth draft adjustments announced by the Panama Canal and is based on planning supported by lessons learned during the 2023-2024 period, as well as the analysis of hydrological data and historical records that support operational decision-making.
Canal specialists maintain continuous monitoring of climatic conditions and develop technical projections that allow for a more precise evaluation of the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, in order to timely define and announce any management measures that may be required in the coming months.
