• 2 min de lectura
• 2 min de lectura
Hapag-Lloyd warned that navigation restrictions in the Panama Canal, due to decreasing water levels and the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, are generating various operational challenges for the maritime transport sector.
The German shipping company stated that "the Panama Canal Authority has reduced daily transit capacity and has implemented additional draft limitations and stricter transit limits, while continuing to monitor water levels."
In this regard, the shipping company detailed that the restrictions have resulted in "greater difficulty in obtaining transport time slots due to reduced daily capacity; -in addition- the reduction in permitted draft decreases the cargo capacity of many vessels; priority auctions, surcharges, and alternative routes are causing an increase in operational costs."
According to the Hamburg-based company, other observed effects are that "transport bottlenecks are causing significant delays on multiple trade routes, -along with- limited ability to adjust schedules or efficiently divert vessels."
According to Hapag-Lloyd, measures are being taken to minimize disruptions and maintain service reliability. "Maintaining fluid communication with the ACP and local partners to ensure the best transport opportunities; identifying and implementing viable recovery measures to mitigate schedule impacts; continuously evaluating alternative routes and making network adjustments to reduce delays and maintain cargo flow," are the actions mentioned by the shipping company.
It should be remembered that, previously and given the transit limitations through the interoceanic passage, the company announced that it decided to replace the vessels of its MSW service. The announced decision seeks to mitigate possible impacts on the itineraries of the service.
