Panama Canal Raises Daily Transits To 34 And Restores 50-Foot Neopanamax Draft As Water Levels Recover
The Panama Canal expanded its transit capacity from 33 to 34 slots per day and increased the maximum allowable draft for ships using the Neopanamax locks to 50 feet.
The Panama Canal Authority has declared the changes in an Advisory to Shipping notice on November 9, 2026. In a statement, the ACP said that the change comes with improved lake levels, favourable hydrological forecasts, and the efficacy of water-saving measures at the locks.
The increase in the draft limit has been effective immediately until further notice, according to Port News.
This adjustment added an extra slot for Super-category vessels using the Panamax locks, raising their daily allocation to 19 slots. The Panamax locks currently have 24 booking slots, with five slots for Regular category vessels, while the Neopanamax locks have 10.
The increase followed months of restrictions due to the unusual dry conditions in 2026, as rainfall across the canal watershed was recorded below average from May to August.
In September, ACP cut down the daily slots, which were lifted again to 33 slots from October 15 after water conditions improved. In comparison, the canal is still operating with fewer slots than before the September cuts.
Traffic pressure increased urgency as disruptions in the Middle East have redirected shipping toward Panama, increasing competition for transit reservations, particularly among energy carriers.
ACP’s vice president for operations, Boris Moreno Vásquez, signed an advisory stating that the transit reservation system is the only way to guarantee a passage date. Vessels without bookings could encounter delays.
The ACP continues to urge advance booking. Its Transit Reservation System is the only way to guarantee a transit date, and vessels arriving without bookings could face substantial delays. The authority will keep monitoring rainfall, watershed conditions and lake levels, and further adjustments are possible, Port News said.
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