Number of ships waiting to pass through the Panama Canal increasing

Panama Canal (Photo: Dataexport)

 
At its worst point last August, there were more than 160 ships waiting to pass through the Panama Canal, connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Previously on November 10, the number of waiting ships was recorded at 112 ships.

The current dry situation has forced the canal management board to reduce the draft limit for large ship locks, as well as announce a stricter cut in the number of daily transits, from now until February next year. The canal will only allow 18 ships to pass through each day, down sharply from the previous maximum of 40.

Realizing that container ships waiting to pass through the canal will limit the amount of shipping space in the coming months, many shippers and shipowners have decided to choose alternative transport routes instead of having to go through the Panama Canal.

Commenting on the situation of shippers, Mr. Judah Levine, head of research at online box booking platform Freightos, commented: "Wait, spend or sail around South America? These are the tough choices currently facing shippers looking to move goods between the US and Asia.”
 

See more:

• Persistent Drought Threatens to Further Reduce Daily Transits at the Panama Canal

Source: Phaata.com (According to Splash247) 

Phaata.com - Vietnam's First International Logistics Marketplace

► Find Better Freight Rates & Logistics Services!