Panama Canal to permit 36 daily transits by September 2024

The Panama Canal is set to accommodate 36 transits per day starting in September, bringing it closer to maximum operating capacity. The canal can handle up to 40 ship transits daily at full capacity, a figure that had dropped last year due to severe drought. As a result, canal administrators had to reduce the maximum draft limits for ships passing through the larger neopanamax locks by nearly 2 meters. However, with the return of rain, these restrictions have been eased. Daily transits will increase to 35 slots after August 5.

Looking ahead, the Panama Canal Authority has set a six-year timeline to complete the construction of a massive $1.6 billion reservoir along the Indio River. This project aims to ensure water security in the future, allowing the canal to consistently support a minimum of 36 transits per day.