Restrictions looming on Canal usage

CONTINGENCY plans   have been drawn up to restrict the draft of ships through the Panama Canal as water  levels continue to fall  in Lake Gatun and Lake Alajuela, the main sources of water for operating the locks.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) said it may restrict the draft of vessels using the waterway starting in April.

The operators of the canal discussed the possibility of enacting restrictions during a dialogue with shipowners and the Panama Chamber of Shipping on  Thursday March 3.

As of noon Tuesday, March 8  the level of The level of Alajuela, which also provides the majority of drinking water to Panama City, was 68.41 meters, or 4.87 meters less than what it should be at this time of year. Gatun was 24.70 meters, or 1.53 meters below the normal level for this time of year. The authority must give Canal users 30 days’ notice before it enacts any restrictions.

“We do not expect to have any restrictions on boats using the new locks, only in the current locks,” said Maritime Chamber Executive Director Luciano Fernandes.

In August 2015, the ACP looked at imposing restrictions, but it was suspended in early September due to Panama receiving a lot of rain. The El Niño phenomenon has caused a drought throughout Central America, which includes the Panama Canal basin.

When the ACP restricts the draft of vessels, they often have to reduce the cargo they are transporting to meet the requirements to use the waterway reports La Prensa.