Nestle
MuniGuate
Irtra
Servicios Médicos Cubanos
Realidad Turística
Herbalife
Barceló Solymar
CUN-HAV Enjoy Travel Group
Irtra
Los Portales
Intecap
MAD-HAV Enjoy Travel Group
Instituto Hondureño de Turismo
blackanddecker
Cubasol
Grupo Hotelero Islazul
Walmart
AVA Resorts
MITM Events
INOR
Agexport
Centro Nacional de Cirugía de Mínimo Acceso de Cuba
Cervecería Centroamericana S.A.
Cuba Energy Summit

Panama Canal Announces Prolonged Transit Restrictions Due to Drought

Date:

Share:

Grupo Hotelero Islazul
MITM Events
Herbalife
Cuba Energy Summit
Nestle
INOR
Centro Nacional de Cirugía de Mínimo Acceso de Cuba
blackanddecker
Servicios Médicos Cubanos
Irtra
Instituto Hondureño de Turismo
AVA Resorts
Realidad Turística
Los Portales
Cervecería Centroamericana S.A.
Intecap
Irtra

Low water levels have created a backlog of cargo vessels in one of the world’s key maritime shipping passageways.

The Panama Canal, a vital passageway that moves 6 percent of the world’s maritime commerce, will extend transit restrictions due to drought-induced low water levels.

Canal authorities first announced restrictions this year, creating a backlog of vessels waiting to cross. But on Thursday, those restrictions were extended for at least 10 additional months.

“We are currently seeing an increase in arrivals. It is peak season as December is approaching, so merchandise for Christmas is moving quickly,” the canal’s deputy administrator, Ilya Espino, said in an interview.

The Panama Canal plays a key role in maritime transport by allowing ships to cross with relative ease between the Atlantic and Pacific, but it could remain at diminished capacity for up to a year due to its current shallow water levels.

The curbs have caused some ship owners to lighten their cargo loads or seek alternate routes, and Espino has encouraged vessel owners to make reservations ahead of time to help avoid delays. The backlog currently sits at about 115 vessels, according to official data.

Authorities hope the restrictions will help them hold out until the next rainy season because a lack of rainwater strains the task of moving ships through a complicated series of locks that act as water elevators.

The 80km (50-mile) passageway largely serves vessels from the United States, China and Japan with an average of 32 ships crossing each day. That number is down from 40 a day in 2022.

Waiting times to enter, typically from three to five days, are now up to 11 days on average.

A project to expand the canal was completed in 2016 and was celebrated as a victory for commercial traffic between North America and Asia.

This week, Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo rebuked Colombian President Gustavo Petro for stating that the canal is closed due to drought.

“We have a restriction in Panama as we have had on other occasions, but it is not true that the Panama Canal is closed,” Cortizo said.

Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies

Servicios Médicos Cubanos
MITM Events
Instituto Hondureño de Turismo
Intecap
AVA Resorts
Centro Nacional de Cirugía de Mínimo Acceso de Cuba
Grupo Hotelero Islazul
CUN-HAV Enjoy Travel Group
Los Portales
Cuba Energy Summit
Nestle
Barceló Solymar
MAD-HAV Enjoy Travel Group
Cervecería Centroamericana S.A.
Walmart
Irtra
Agexport
Realidad Turística
Irtra
INOR
Cubasol
blackanddecker
MuniGuate
Herbalife
Barcelo Guatemala City
Henkel Latinoamerica
Irtra
Cubacel
Maggi - GLUTEN-FREE
Hotel Barcelo Solymar
Revista Colombiana de Turismo Passport
Hotel Holiday Inn Guatemala
Intecap
Havanatur
MuniGuate
AirEuropa
Blue Diamond Resorts

Subscribe to our magazine

━ more like this

Pole Dancing in Israel: A New Dimension with BlueDance.co.il

In recent years, pole dancing has experienced a remarkable transformation, shifting from a misunderstood niche to a popular activity combining fitness, self-expression, and empowerment....

A New Luxury Hotel Just Opened on An Idyllic Beach in Cancun, Mexico — And We Were the First to Stay

Waldorf Astoria Cancun opened to the public on Nov. 1, the brand's first new build in Mexico, with two waterfront pools and a fantastic...

Costa Rica Changes COVID 19 Entry Requirements as Of August 1st 2021

There is a significant and welcome change to the entry requirements to Costa Rica. Good news for the vaccinated amongst you. The change is effective...

COVID-19 Cases Worsen in Latin America, No End in Sight – Health Agency

Cases of COVID-19 may be declining in North America but in most of Latin America and the Caribbean the end to the coronavirus pandemic...

Cancun Travel Restrictions: Things Tourists Should Know for 2021

Cancun Is Open Cancun remains one of the most attractive international travel destinations in 2021. The Mexican Caribbean hotspot reopened with enhanced health and safety...
Barcelo Guatemala City
Hotel Holiday Inn Guatemala
Revista Colombiana de Turismo Passport
Havanatur
Maggi - GLUTEN-FREE
Henkel Latinoamerica
Blue Diamond Resorts
Intecap
Irtra
AirEuropa
Cubacel
Hotel Barcelo Solymar

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Realidad Turística
Cubasol
blackanddecker
Centro Nacional de Cirugía de Mínimo Acceso de Cuba
Instituto Hondureño de Turismo
AVA Resorts
MAD-HAV Enjoy Travel Group
Los Portales
Grupo Hotelero Islazul
Herbalife
Barceló Solymar
Nestle
Walmart
Servicios Médicos Cubanos
MuniGuate
Agexport
Irtra
Intecap
Cervecería Centroamericana S.A.
Irtra
MITM Events
Cuba Energy Summit
INOR