Panama canal further limits depth

Shallow waters due to drought are forcing the Panama Canal to expand restrictions on the largest ships using the waterway, impacting a vital channel for grain shipments using one of the busiest commercial passages in the world, Reuters reported. The Panama Canal Authority implemented restrictions in May to prevent ships from running aground, and since then some large vessels have had to reduce container loading by around 25%. In the first five months of the year, accumulated rainfall in the area around the 80-kilometer canal was 47% below the historical average, according to the agency. The new restrictions, which will take effect on June 25, limit neo-Panamax container ships to a depth limit of 43.5 feet (13.26 meters), meaning they must carry less cargo or lose weight. to float higher. The previous maximum draft was 44.0 feet (13.41 meters). In 2022, ships carrying 36.18 million tons of grain – including corn, soybeans, rice, sorghum, barley and wheat – transited the channel ...