Panama Canal transits and draft limits
Water levels in Gatun Lake decide how deep a ship may sit and how many transits the canal can offer per day. Draft restrictions force operators to load less cargo or to route via Suez or the Cape, and the auction slots for guaranteed passage have become a cost factor of their own.
China eases Panama crackdown amid terminal dispute
Safety checks linked to row over Chinese concessions at Panama Canal, easing flag registry issues - an update on the impact of trade disputes on maritime operations.
Panama Canal reduces draft limits as El Niño intensifies
The Panama Canal Authority has lowered the maximum draft for Neopanamax locks due to falling water levels, impacting large ships' transit.
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