Canal Concerns

The Panama Canal might not be in as much trouble as previously reported after all:

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced an increase in the number of daily transit slots available in the older Panamax Locks. The measures come in response to the current and anticipated water levels of Gatun Lake and increased demand for transit slots. Starting March 18, two more Panamax slots will be available for auction, and from March 25, an additional slot will be introduced. This will increase the daily transits to 27, an improvement from the current 24 slots. The levels are still significantly lower than the 36 daily transits typically available. Low water levels in Gatun Lake forced the Panama Canal Authority to reduce the capacity of the waterway in 2023 through daily transit and draft limits, in an effort to conserve freshwater. However, above average rainfall in November and December allowed the ACP to maintain 24 daily transits, rather than reduce the number to 18 in February as planned. .... ...On completion of these works ACP has announced measures that will increase the number of daily transits from 24 to 32, as water levels have improved following the drought last year that caused the implementation of restrictions.

Or maybe they were never that low to begin with...