Due to El Niño’s low rainfall, the operator of the Panama Canal will reduce the amount of ships using the vital route. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) informed shipping companies on Thursday that starting September 15, 32 vessels per day will be able to sail through it, down from the current 36.
Global weather systems are impacted by El Niño, a trend of recurrent sea surface warming. This year is predicted to be especially powerful, with climate change intensifying its effects.
The war in Iran has significantly reduced the number of ships travelling through the vital Strait of Hormuz, already causing major disruptions to the maritime industry. According to the ACP, the actions were taken to protect water supplies for human use and maintain service dependability.
It further stated that further action was required “to support the long-term sustainability of transit operations” even though the rainy season had already begun in Central America and some water-saving measures had already been implemented in the canal.
The new policies will be implemented gradually starting on September 3. The Panama Canal significantly shortens the time and distance ships must travel between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
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