Panama Canal Restricts Navigation Due to Drought

An El Niño-related drought has caused a drop in the level of Lake Gatun, forcing the Panama Canal Authority to limit the draft of ships.

 

 

With 4 to 5 months of almost zero rainfall, the Panama Canal records the driest period of its history. The flow of the river is 60% lower than normal. Lake Gatun, an artificial lake of 436 km2, has a water level 1.4m lower than normal in this season. The other lake that feeds the Canal, Lake Alajuela also has a water level 2.2 meters below normal.

 

 

Since January the Canal Administration has notified of 4 restrictions of the draft of ships. When water levels are normal, the maximum draft for vessels is 15.20 meters. The last restriction requires a draft of only 13.11 meters.