Watch the video: Panama Canal restricted passage for at least another ten months
The restriction on the use of the Panama Canal is extended because of the ongoing drought. The canal authority announced on Wednesday that the maximum number of daily ship transits would remain limited for at least another ten months. Ship owners are advised to reserve transit slots as more arrivals are expected before Christmas. The restrictions on the more than 80-kilometer waterway that connects the Atlantic with the Pacific were ordered because of low rainfall in the Central American region. Shipping companies and experts warn prices for consumer goods could soar as delays and additional fees increase transport costs. The Panama Canal is important for the transport of goods from Asia to the USA. It also enables faster shipment of US goods to Asia and the South American Pacific coast. Over 40 percent of containers shipped from Northeast Asia to the US East Coast typically pass through the canal.