Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (ACP) announced on Thursday, effective immediately, an increase in the maximum authorised draught for vessels transiting the Neopanamax locks to 13.71 metres (45.0 feet).
The increase was scheduled to take place on June 15.
The announcement came days before the Authority increased the number of daily transits in the Neopanamax locks from seven to eight – effective on June 1.
The total number of transits now stands at 32 per day.
According to media reports, water levels of Gatun and Alhajuela Lakes have now surpassed the levels recorded on the same date in 2023, with the start of the rainy season. Waterway data indicates that as of May 30, Gatun Lake levels stood at 81.142 feet, an increase from 80.384 feet a year ago.
