Panama Canal Adds Transit Slot, Raises Draft to 49 Feet as Water Improves
The Panama Canal Authority increased the daily Neopanamax transit slots from nine to 10 starting Oct. 15 and raised the maximum authorized draft to 49 feet. The change lifts total daily capacity across the Neopanamax and Panamax locks to 33 slots and replaces the previous 48‑foot draft limit that took effect Tuesday.
The draft increase follows a postponement of a planned Oct. 1 reduction to 47.5 feet after the authority reassessed weather forecasts and water levels at Gatún Lake. As of Wednesday, the canal projected Gatún Lake’s average level for October at 85.7 feet, up from the earlier forecast of 82.6 feet under a severe El Niño scenario. The authority cited current and projected lake levels, near-average precipitation across the watershed and the water‑saving measures in place at the locks as reasons for the reversal. Officials warned that the water deficit persists, that the transit reservation system remains the only way to guarantee a date, and that vessels without reservations could face indefinite delays. The advisory to shipping companies on Monday specified that the additional Neopanamax slot is available for bookings starting Oct. 15.
Earlier in September the canal had cut daily transits from 36 to 34 on Sept. 4 and then again to 32 on Sept. 15 as El Niño threatened water supplies. A fiscal 2027 budget draft submitted to Panama’s parliament had penciled in an average of 29.5 daily transits for October, based on a severe El Niño outlook. In late August, the canal’s own outlook had Gatún Lake’s water levels falling by more than a foot by the end of October to 82.6 feet.
What we know
Daily Neopanamax transit slots increased from nine to ten starting Oct. 15
Maximum authorized draft raised to 49 feet
Total daily capacity across Neopanamax and Panamax locks now 33 slots
Draft limit increased from the previous 48‑foot limit, effective Tuesday
Gatún Lake’s average level expected to be 85.7 feet for October (as of Wednesday)