Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez Morales announced that it will begin providing 50 feet of draft in 2021, the highest standard for neo-Panamax locks.

In the midst of the challenges faced by the pandemic, the service is provided to Canal consumers and users and needs more vigilant management of the Canal workers to control infections and sustain uninterrupted service.

Vásquez stressed the work carried out by the Canal Human Team, which is celebrating 21 years of transfer to Panamanian hands this December.

A 50-foot draft enables ships to pass with a greater volume of cargo, resulting in consumer benefits because it makes freight transport more efficient.

The Canal administration is also working on the prequalification bidding process for companies that are interested in submitting proposals for a portfolio of projects that guarantee water availability.

The Panama Canal has adopted operational water conservation initiatives, but has also provided for the collection of a charge for the use of freshwater for the transit of vessels that have helped to conserve the resource in order to support the project.

Maritime Business World