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| Panama Canal to limit ship draft due to drought | |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| The Panama Canal Authority says it will temporarily cut the draft of ships allowed through because of drought caused by El Nino. | |
| From 8 September, the maximum draft - or depth in the water - will be cut to 39ft (11.89m), which may affect up to 20% of traffic. | |
| A similar restriction was imposed for the same reason in 1998. | A similar restriction was imposed for the same reason in 1998. |
| The authorities say a further cut could be imposed on 16 September if the situation does not improve. | |
| The authority has taken the action because water levels in the Gatun and Alhajuela lakes has reduced as a result of the El Nino weather phenomenon. | The authority has taken the action because water levels in the Gatun and Alhajuela lakes has reduced as a result of the El Nino weather phenomenon. |
| The current draft limit is 39.5ft, which will be cut to 39ft on 8 September and then potentially to 38.5ft on 16 September. | The current draft limit is 39.5ft, which will be cut to 39ft on 8 September and then potentially to 38.5ft on 16 September. |
| Shipping companies had been warned the cuts could be coming. | Shipping companies had been warned the cuts could be coming. |
| The Panama Canal celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, having seen more than a million ships pass through. | The Panama Canal celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, having seen more than a million ships pass through. |
| Panama took control of the canal from the US in 2000, and has since been widely praised with the way it has handled the operation. | Panama took control of the canal from the US in 2000, and has since been widely praised with the way it has handled the operation. |
| Transit fees now bring in about $1bn (£645m) a year for the government. | Transit fees now bring in about $1bn (£645m) a year for the government. |