After extremely dry conditions in October, rainfall in November brought some relief to water levels in Panama’s Gatun Lake.

In an advisory issued on 15 December, the Canal said that “rainfall and lake levels for November proved to be less adverse than expected.”

As a result, the Panama Canal Authority decided to adjust “the number and distribution of booking slots for both the Panamax and Neopanamax locks.”

Instead of the 20 slots planned earlier, 24 vessels will be allowed transit as of 16 January.

“Additionally, the Panama Canal will allow one booking slot per customer per date, with some exceptions for quotas offered to vessels competing through the reservation system,” said the authority in a press release.

The Canal started receiving applications under the new distribution on 17 December.

It highlighted that the booking slot assignment priority for the Neopanamax locks will be given to full container vessels.