The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced a new adjustment to the maximum allowable draft for ships passing through neopanamax locks as part of water resource management measures for Lake Gatuna level projections.
According to a notice to ships, from 26 August 2026 the maximum authorized draft shall be 48 feet (14.63 metres).
Later, from 3 September, the limit will be reduced to 47.5 feet (14.48 metres).
The interoceanic track management explained that the decision responded to today’s level of Lake Gatún and to hydrological projections for the next few weeks.
The Canal stated that these adjustments will not change the number of scheduled daily transits and are part of the water management and conservation measures implemented since December 2025 as a preparation for the 2026 dry season.
These would be the fourth and fifth draft reduction reported this year.
The first entered into force on 3 July with a limit of 49.5 feet (15.09 metres) while by 24 July a second reduction was given to 49 feet and by 15 August a reduction to 48.5 feet or 14.78 metres was expected.
For the so-called super Nino that we are expecting next year, the ACP expects to avoid reducing the number of daily transits as happened in 2023 when it came to a reduction by 25 crossings a day.
