The restrictions, which will take effect from today (Wednesday), mean that so-called neo-Panamax container ships seeking to cross the canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans must comply with a maximum depth of 47.5ft, down from 50ft (technically 49.9ft), obliging them either to weigh less or otherwise transport fewer goods.
The new measures are due to recent drought conditions, the canal authority said, prompting the fifth adjustment of its kind since the start of the year.
Officials did not provide an end date to the measure, described for now as temporary, but said they hope it can "be lifted as soon as possible" once the Central American rainy season starts.
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) oversees the operation of the world-famous trade route that cuts through the Isthmus of Panama and connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. The Canal effectively divides North and South America and is one of the world's busiest shipping...