- Panama Canal Authority announced a new maximum draft restriction of 43 feet or 13.11 meters which will come into effect May 28.
- The current maximum draft is set at 44 feet, or 13.41 meters, which came into effect April 30 and was announced April 1.
- The maximum draft restrictions are based off the deepest point of Gatun Lake in tropical fresh water at a density of 0.9954 at 29.4 degrees Celsius (85 degrees Fahrenheit).
According to an article published in Platts, the Panama Canal Authority announced a new maximum draft restriction of 43 feet, or 13.11 meters, the sixth since January, in the Gatun Lakes, which will come into effect May 28.
Draft restrictions
The current maximum draft is set at 44 feet, or 13.41 meters, which came into effect April 30 and was announced April 1.
The continued tightening of draft restrictions in the Gatun Lakes is based on the projected precipitation and water levels of the lake in the coming weeks. Further draft adjustments would be announced in 12-inch, or 30.5-cm, decrements, with advance notice of four weeks, the ACP said Friday.
Transit-based on the water level
Ships arriving after May 28 with drafts exceeding the 43-foot level may be allowed to transit, depending on the Gatun Lakes’ water level at the time, according to the ACP. If water levels are too low, ships with drafts exceeding the maximum allowable draft must trim or offload cargo in order to make the transit.
The draft limit for various classes
The maximum draft restrictions are based off the deepest point of Gatun Lake in tropical fresh water at a density of 0.9954 at 29.4 degrees Celsius (85 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Aframax and Long Range 2 vessels, which have a maximum draft of 14.9 meters when fully laden, will not be able to transit the Neopanamax Locks at the 13.11-meter restriction.
- Suezmaxes, when fully laden, cannot transit the canal at a 43-foot draft, as tankers of this class usually require a 50-foot draft for a full 1 million-barrel cargo of 43 API crude.
- For dry bulk, Neopanamax and Capesize ships cannot transit the canal at a 43-foot (14.33-meter) draft, as they require maximum drafts of 15 meters and 20 meters, respectively.
- Clean Medium Range and Long Range 1 tankers, dirty Panamax tankers and all LNG tanker classes can transit fully laden at the restricted 43-foot (14.33-meter) draft.
- Handysize, Supramax, and Ultramax, and Panamax size dry bulk carriers, with maximum drafts of 10 meters, 11 meters, and 12 meters, respectively, will be able to pass through the restricted 13.11-meter maximum draft.
- The Neopanamax locks are designed to allow ships with a draft up to 50 feet, or 15.2 meters, to transit.
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Source: Platts
