Vessels in queue for transit across the Panama Canal stood at 128 ships on September first, some 42% above the 90 average, but 21% below the figure a month ago. While container ships, which have fixed schedules, tend to have reserved slots, the voyage plans for the tramp trades continue to be hit hard by the ongoing congestion brought about by drought and subsequent draft and transit restrictions put in place by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).
Global shipping has been urged to share transit plans at one of the world’s key maritime crossings following on Panama Canal Authority officials warning that water-conserving restrictions will be in place for at least the next 10 months, given this year's unprecedented drought which Panama is experiencing.
On both sides of the Panama Canal, fleets of ships find themselves immobilized, delayed by weeks as waterway authorities have slowed traffic to conserve water amid a severe drought. A report from the Brazilian news agency O-Globo gives a detailed picture of what is happening.
Since the Panama Canal connected the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific in the early 20th century, it changes forever the history of global shipping. Before the canal was completed, ships had to go around the southern tip of South America, close to the Falklands coal fueling deposits, and a much longer and more dangerous route.
Insufficient rainfall has once again forced the Panama Canal to reduce the draft of ships crossing through the inter-oceanic route – another episode of the water supply crisis that threatens the future of the maritime course that handles 6% of global maritime trade
Global transportation bottlenecks that have surged since the pandemic have shaken industries, consumers, deliveries, and prices. Clear evidence of this can be seen in the current Panama Canal queues of vessels.
USS Kitty Hawk CV63, the last conventionally powered United States Navy aircraft carrier left over the weekend from a naval base at Bremerton, Washington State and pulled by two tugs is on its way to a scrapyard in Texas in the Gulf of Mexico.
Holland America Zaandam cruise ship, carrying four bodies and scores of patients with coronavirus-like symptoms, has been given permission to cross the Panama Canal, allowing them to continue their journey toward Florida, the cruise line’s president said Sunday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping Monday explained relations between his country and Panama have ”gotten off to a strong start in just a year-and-a-half” after the establishment of diplomatic ties in June 2017.
The most expensive destroyer ever built for the United States Navy has suffered an engineering problem in the Panama Canal and had to be towed to port. U.S. The 3rd Fleet spokesman Commander Ryan Perry says a vice admiral has directed the USS Zumwalt to remain at ex-Naval Station Rodman in Panama to address the issues. The ship was built at Bath Iron Works in Maine.