21 days! 154 ships! Panama Canal 'immobilized'

According to a CNBC local time report on Wednesday, the number of ships waiting to pass through the Panama Canal, the global shipping artery, has reached 154, and the waiting time for navigation has reached 21 days!

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In response, the Panama Canal Authority (PCA) took water-saving measures in late July and temporarily reduced the booking slots for Panamax ships from August 8 to August 21, reducing the booking slots from 23 to 14 per day. , which caused the ship jam. Panamax ships are the largest ships that can traverse the canal, carrying 4,500 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

In July, the PCA additionally imposed stricter lower water limits, requiring ships to reduce their deadweight by 40%, which is especially important for those currently passingshiphad an impact.

The Ever Max ship had to offload 1,400 containers at the Port of Balboa to meet the requirements and be allowed to pass, it is reported. Currently, the ship is moored at the Port of Savannah.

Relevant data show that in the first week of August, the average delay time of each ship in the Panama Canal has been as high as 15 to 19 days.

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trackCaptain Adil Ashiq, head of the North American region of the platform Marine Traffic, said:

Those containers that have not been unloaded may require another vessel for the remainder of the voyage. Things are likely to get dire before they get better.

wheneverA ship crosses the Panama Canal, a canal lock chamber will lose 50 million gallons of water. Gatun Lake, which feeds the canal, has dropped to its lowest level in four years because of the drought.

Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, director of the Panama Canal Authority, said that given the changing situation, the canal is maintaining communication with customers, keeping them informed of the availability of reserved slots. He said: Through regular updates, transparent dialogue and close cooperation with shipping companies and stakeholders, we are committed to managing expectations and providing customers with real-time information to enable them to make informed decisions.

Alan Baer, ​​CEO of logistics company OL USA, told CNBC that shippers may have to start looking at other routes.