The Panama Canal Authority said on Thursday it would put an end to daily transit operations starting in early September, as it braces for a longer-than-normal El Niño season that is expected to bring water levels down, reversing an earlier pledge not to restrict ship passage.
Under the new measures, the canal will limit daily transit from September 4 to 34 ships, reducing the number to 32 from September 15.
The canal recorded an average of 35 crossings per day until June 2026, which is in line with ship demand, with the capacity to handle about 40 crossings per day.
In May, canal authorities told Reuters that the waterway did not plan to restrict ship passage this year and had already taken water conservation measures since 2025.
According to an advisory issued on Thursday, the daily capacity of the canal’s neopanamax locks from September 4 will be limited to nine slots, while the capacity of older panamax locks will be limited to 25 slots.
As of September 15, capacity in the Panamax locks will be reduced to 23 slots.
Get daily national news
Get Canada Daily News delivered to your inbox so you don’t miss the day’s top stories.
The canal authority had previously tightened the project boundaries several times as part of its water management strategy.
The authority also revealed that rainfall from May to August was 34% below the historical average, while watershed flows fell 44% below normal.
It warned that the expected intensity of the 2026-2027 El Niño could reduce rainfall, threatening the long-term sustainability of the waterway and local water supplies.
In addition, the authority is postponing previously scheduled reductions to the maximum permitted quantities. The planned adjustment to 14.63 meters (48.0 ft) at the Neopanamax locks was postponed until 2 September, while the subsequent move to 14.48 meters (47.5 ft) was postponed to 1 October.
Draft is the depth of water a ship needs to float safely; The lower draft means that ships may have to carry less cargo in order to pass through the canal.
Ricorte Vasquez, director of the Panama Canal, said this year’s El Niño could last much longer than before, requiring the canal to limit transit capacity, as it did during the drought in 2023 and 2024, in addition to imposing conscription restrictions.
“The experience of 2023 and 2024 prepared us well for what we know and gave us the discipline to deal with what we do not know,” Vasquez said on Wednesday during a work event. “The channel does not improvise.”
