The Panama Canal is facing a shipping backlog due to a drought that has led to water conservation measures. The Panama Canal Authority has implemented temporary restrictions on passage slots for booked vessels in an effort to ease the congestion. The restrictions will remain in effect through August 21 and affect the Canal’s old locks, used by smaller vessels. Transit through the largest locks will remain unaltered.

The drought in Panama is the worst in 70 years and has led to a decline in water levels in the canal. The water conservation measures implemented by the Panama Canal Authority include reducing the number of vessels that can pass through the canal each day, limiting the maximum draft of vessels that can transit the canal, and requiring vessels to use less water when they are transiting the canal.

The restrictions on passage slots for booked vessels are the latest in a series of measures that the Panama Canal Authority has implemented in an effort to manage the congestion at the canal. The Panama Canal is one of the most important shipping routes in the world and the congestion at the canal is having a ripple effect on global shipping.