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02 Apr 2016 / Panama Canal, Panama

Second draft restriction announced

Effective April 29, 2016, the maximum authorized transit draft will be set at 11.74, (38.5 feet), Tropical Fresh Water (TFW), as follows:

  • Vessels loaded to drafts over 11.74 meteres (38.5 feet) on or before April 1, 2016, will have this draft restriction waived for transit,subject to safety consideration.
  • Vessels loaded after April 1, 2016, shall comply with the draft restriction.
  • Vessels arriving with drafts over 11.74 meters (38.5 feet), TFW, may be allowed to transit after April 29, 2016, depending on the level of Gatun Lane at the time of transit. Otherwise, they will be required to trim or off-load cargo in order to transit.

As in the past, draft restrictions will be implemented in 15-centimeter (six-inch) decrements at a time, with each restriction announced at least four weeks in advance. Vessels alreadt loaded to the prevailing draft limitation at the time of announcing the new draft restriction will have this restriction waived for transit, subject to safety considerations.

The maximum authorized transit draft is the deepest point immersion in TFW allowed for a particular vessel in Gatun Lake, which has a density of 0.9954 at 29.4 deg. C (85 deg F). However, vessels shall arrive at Canal with no list.

The Panama Canal Authority will eliminate these draft restrictions as soon as Gatun Lake level returns to normal.

(For information about operations in the Panama Canal, contact GAC-Wilford & McKay at [email protected])

Source: Panama Canal Authority Advisory to Shipping No.A-14-2016 dated April 1, 2016

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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