Panama Canal may cut ship transits further as El Nino drought deepens

The Panama Canal could face further reductions in ship transits if drought caused by El Nino continues, the new administrator of the waterway told AFP on Monday. Panama has declared a nationwide emergency over the weather pattern, which is developing over the Pacific Ocean and is affecting worldwide weather patterns while driving up global temperatures.

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The canal handles 5% of global maritime trade and has already cut the maximum number of ships allowed through each day. The limit was reduced from 36 last month to 32 by mid-September, reflecting falling water levels in the reservoirs that supply the canal with rainwater.

Ilya Espino de Marotta, who took over as head of the Panama Canal Authority on Monday, said further measures remain possible if the drought does not subside. She said authorities do not rule out lowering the limit in February or March, and suggested any further cut would probably not go to 24 slots per day, but could be reduced to 29 or a similar level.

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Image Credit: 360LiveNews

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