Drought forces Panama Canal to adopt new fees and cut reservations

© Adeliepenguin

Recent years have seen Panama’s annual rainfall decline considerably, while higher-than-normal temperatures leading to increased water evaporation has meant water levels in the canal have hit critically low levels. Maritime blog gCaptain reports that, as a result, the canal authority is reducing its daily reservation slots from 32 to 27 – although the current eight slots a day for neopanamax vessels will remain unchanged. The cost of transiting is also set to rise with the application of a freshwater surcharge, reportedly as much as $10,000 a ship.