The Panama Canal Authority will impose new limits on daily vessel transits in September as it prepares for a potentially prolonged El Niño season and further pressure on water availability.

From September 4, the canal will cap traffic at 34 vessels per day. The limit will be reduced again to 32 daily transits from September 15, according to an advisory issued by the authority.

The measures reverse an earlier indication that passage restrictions would not be required during 2026. In May, canal officials said the waterway was not planning to restrict vessel transits and noted that water conservation measures had already been in place since 2025.

Through June 2026, the canal recorded an average of 35 transits per day, reflecting vessel demand. The waterway has capacity for approximately 40 crossings daily.

The September restrictions will be divided between the canal’s Neopanamax and Panamax locks. From September 4, the Neopanamax locks will be limited to nine daily slots, while the older Panamax locks will accommodate 25 vessels. The Panamax allocation will fall to 23 slots per day from September 15, bringing total daily capacity down to 32 vessels.

The authority attributed the decision to deteriorating hydrological conditions. Rainfall between May and August was 34% below the historical average, while inflows into the canal watershed were 44% below normal levels.

It also warned that the expected intensity of the 2026-2027 El Niño event could further suppress rainfall, creating risks for the waterway’s longer-term sustainability and for local water supplies.

Alongside the transit limits, the authority has postponed previously announced reductions in the maximum authorized draft for vessels using the Neopanamax locks. A planned adjustment to 14.63 metres, or 48 feet, has been delayed until September 2. A further reduction to 14.48 metres, or 47.5 feet, has been moved to October 1.

Lower draft limits can require vessels to reduce their cargo intake to pass safely through the canal. The authority has adjusted draft restrictions several times as part of its water management strategy.

Panama Canal administrator Ricaurte Vasquez said this year’s El Niño could persist longer than previous events, requiring limits on transit capacity as well as draft restrictions. Similar measures were introduced during the drought experienced in 2023 and 2024.

Vasquez said the canal’s experience during those two years had strengthened its preparedness and operating discipline in dealing with both known and uncertain conditions.