🌐Panama’s $1.6B Plan: Can a New Lake Save the Canal?
🌀The canal ran low on water. Panama wants a new reservoir. It could help ships move again — if courts and local communities agree.
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🔥 Greetings, Maritime Mavericks!
Imagine a 80km shortcut between two oceans running short of water.
That’s the Panama Canal in recent dry years.
In 2023–2024, the worst drought in 70+ years hit.
Daily transits fell from ~36–38 to ~18.
Ships had to carry less cargo or move boxes by rail and truck across Panama.
Why? The canal uses fresh water from Gatún Lake, which dropped ~2.5m.
When the lake is low, the canal limits draft (how deep a ship sits).
Each 0.3m less draft can mean ~300–500 fewer containers on a big ship.
🔁The Fix: The Río Indio Reservoir
🌎The Human Side
❓How Shippers Are Adapting Now?
🌀Why the U.S. Should Care?
📅Key Dates
📊Fast Facts
🌐What Smart Operators Do Now?
🎖️Maritime Analytica Insight — Big Picture
Let’s dive deep…
🔁The Fix: The Río Indio Reservoir
Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has a plan:
Cost: $1.6 billion (with ~$400M for compensation and relocation)
What: Dam the Río Indio and drill a 5-mile tunnel to Gatún Lake
Water: Up to 970M gallons/day extra for canal lakes
Benefit: Up to +15 more ship transits/day in the dry season (Jan–May)
Timing: Aim to start in 2027; build time ~5+ years
Context: ACP made ~$5B revenue and ~$3.4B net income in 2024
💡But: The plan faces a Supreme Court challenge and local resistance.