Panama Canal maintains full operations despite El Niño forecast in Port News 17/05/2026 The Panama Canal will not impose vessel passage restrictions for the rest of 2026, even if the anticipated El Niño weather pattern brings drought conditions to Central America in the second half of the year, the waterway authority told Reuters on Friday. The canal currently permits 38 ships to transit daily through the interoceanic route. Passage demand has risen in recent months, primarily due to the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, which has disrupted traffic through alternative routes including the Suez Canal. The canal authority said it has been closely monitoring weather conditions since the start of this year’s rainy season and has implemented water conservation measures in preparation for the potential El Niño weather pattern. Source: Investing.com 2026-05-17 hellenicshippingnews... tweet Share