The Panama Canal has decided to impose a freshwater fee on ships to reduce the impact of low water levels, reports Ship Technology.
The freshwater surcharge will come into effect on 15 February.
Rapid decrease in water levels
It has also announced various other measures to maintain the operational level of water, which has been severely affected due to changing rainfall patterns and low water levels at Gatun Lake.
The canal has received 20% lower rainfall compared to the all-time average. It was the fifth driest year in the past 70 years for the Panama Canal. Due to the temperatures rise from 0.5˚C to 1.5˚C, the water evaporation levels increased by 10%.
Fixed surcharges for ships
Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vasquez told that a fixed charge would be set at $10,000 for any vessel over 125 feet long, as well as a variable surcharge based on the level of Gatun Lake at time of transit.
“It’s not an easy decision,” Vasquez told reporters, adding that the short-term measure was needed to tackle the impact of climate change. Daily reservations would be reduced to 27 from 32, he said.
The canal authority said the measures were being imposed due to a lack of rainfall, which has negatively affected the supply of water from Gatun Lake, a major part of the waterway.
If water levels on the lake improve, the charge could be lowered and the reservation slots could rise, the canal said.
Millions of dollars need to be spent to guarantee the water supply to the canal, Vasquez said. The canal, which opened a new set of locks in 2016, has historically handled about 5% of world trade.
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Source: Ship Technology
