Panama Canal Authority will make two further adjustments to the maximum allowable draft at the Panama Canal’s Neopanamax Locks as part of its water management measures.
Under Advisory to Shipping No. A-25-2026, the maximum allowable draft will be reduced to 14.63 m (48.0 ft) Tropical Fresh Water from 26 August 2026. A second adjustment will lower the limit to 14.48 m (47.5 ft) from 3 September 2026 until further notice.
The authority said the changes were based on Gatun Lake water levels and updated weather projections. They form part of water conservation and resource management measures introduced in December 2025 in preparation for the 2026 dry season.
The latest measures represent the fourth and fifth draft adjustments announced for the Neopanamax Locks.
Panama Canal Authority said the draft changes will not reduce daily vessel transit capacity. Available transit slots at the Panamax and Neopanamax Locks will remain unchanged.
The authority has been monitoring hydrological conditions and the potential effects of El Niño on the canal watershed. It said further operational changes could be announced depending on lake levels and updated hydrological projections.
The canal uses water stored in Gatun and Alhajuela Lakes for vessel transits as well as for water supply in Panama. Panama Canal Authority has been implementing water-saving measures at the locks while monitoring reservoir conditions.
