The Panama Canal Authority on Friday further postponed a planned reduction in the maximum authorised draft for its neo-Panamax locks to 14.48 metres (47.5 feet), scheduled to take effect on October 1, citing higher-than-expected water levels at Gatun Lake and favourable weather projections.
The postponement means a maximum authorised draft of 14.63 metres will remain in effect in the neo-Panamax locks.
The authority did not provide a new date for a potential reduction and said it would announce future draft adjustments in a timely manner.
On August 20, the authority had already delayed the adjustment to 14.63 metres in the neo-Panamax locks until September 2, while pushing the subsequent move to 14.48 metres to October 1.
The moves accompanied a reduction in daily transits as the interoceanic route prepared for a longer-than-usual El Niño season expected to lower water levels, walking back a previous pledge not to limit vessel passage.
(Reporting by Raúl Cortés Fernández, Editing by Natalia Siniawski)