Panama Canal to Limit Daily Ship Crossings as El Niño Threatens Water Levels

The Panama Canal Authority has announced it will restrict daily vessel transits starting in early September, a reversal of its earlier position that no limits would be imposed this year. The decision comes as the waterway prepares for a longer-than-usual El Niño season, which is expected to reduce water levels in the coming months.

Under the new schedule, daily transits will be capped at 34 vessels from September 4, and further reduced to 32 from September 15. The canal has been averaging 35 transits per day through June 2026, with a maximum capacity of around 40 crossings daily.

The restrictions will apply unevenly across the canal's two lock systems. From September 4, the Neopanamax locks—used by larger vessels—will be limited to nine daily slots, while the older Panamax locks will be capped at 25 slots. From September 15, the Panamax allocation will drop further to 23 slots.

In May, canal authorities had told reporters that no passage restrictions were planned for the year, citing water conservation measures already in place since 2025. Those measures included several rounds of tightened draft limits, which reduce how deep ships sit in the water.

The new advisory, issued Thursday, signals a more cautious approach as the canal seeks to balance operational demand with the need to preserve water reserves through an extended dry period.