Panama Canal Authority said on the 28th that from Oct. 15 Neopanamax locks’
daily booking slots will rise from 9 to 10, lifting total daily transit bookings
from 32 to 33. Effective immediately the maximum Neopanamax draft is increased
from about 14.63 m (48 ft) to about 14.94 m (49 ft). The authority cited recently
increased rainfall, water-saving gains from lock operations and current/forecast
Gatun Lake levels as reasons. It warned basin-level water scarcity persists; the
booking system remains the only way to secure a transit date and it will
continue to monitor hydrology and adjust operations as needed. The canal had
previously tightened transits amid dry conditions.
