Drought leaves more than 100 ships stuck in Panama Canal
Canal authorities explained that a protocol has been activated to address the situation. Gatun Lake, the larger of the two lakes that supply water to the canal, fell to its lowest level in seven years in late July.
The Panama Canal has a high number of ships seeking passage amidst a drought. The canal explained on its official website that there are just over a hundred ships currently waiting. By Thursday, there were about 120 ships awaiting transit.
"The prolonged dry season is a natural phenomenon that affects many regions, including the Panama Canal. Although we cannot control nature, we can adapt our operations to ensure a competitive flow of vessels," the canal authorities wrote in a statement explaining the protocol it is applying to deal with the situation.
The channel explained that "for this month, the average waiting time for non-reserved transits ranges between nine and eleven days. We continuously monitor these figures and implement measures to improve the flow." Meanwhile, the Presidency of Panama account responded on X (Twitter) to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who claims that the canal was closed due to the drought. "Mr. President of Colombia, the Panama Canal maintains its operations open and free transit to facilitate mobility and world trade. The information circulating on social media is not true and distorts reality," the account said.
'Our main objective remains the reliability of our services'
According to estimates of Bloomberg, the depth of Gatun Lake, the larger of the two lakes that supply water to the canal, fell to its lowest level in seven years in late July. "The level is forecast to remain below five-year average levels until the end of October, even when the rainy season arrives in Panama," explained Bloomberg.
The Panama Canal released a statement regarding ships that are taking other routes, indicating that freedom of choice was vital: "We understand that our customers have options, and it is our duty to ensure that our services remain the best option. If circumstances demand it and customers temporarily choose another route, we respect and understand their decision. Our main objective remains the reliability of our services."
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