by Responsible Editor, SeaNewsEditor

16 August 2024 (Lloyd's List) - THE Panama Canal Authority has once again increased the maximum draught for vessels travelling through its neopanamax locks, as water levels in the Gatun Lake continue to rise.

The new maximum authorised draught is 15.24 m (50 ft), effective immediately.

In addition, the authority will add in an extra daily booking slot from September 1, taking the number of available slots to 36. Of those, 10 slots will be earmarked for neopanamax (over 32.62 m in beam), 20 for supers (over 27.74 m in beam) and six for regular vessels (under 27.74 m in beam).

At full capacity, the canal is capable of handling 40 vessels per day through its locks.

As Lloyd’s List reported earlier this week, transits in July were up 31% from the drought-hit low in January, though they are still down 12.5% on the same month in 2022.