Video of Panama cannel interlocking video

There has been quite a bit of news regarding the significant impact of the drought on cargo flows through the Panama Canal.

To fill the locks and raise the ships, it takes 50M gallons of water from Gatun Lake for each crossing. With the drought, the rivers feeding the lake are not able to replenish the water lost to the sea.

To counter the falling water levels of Gatun Lake, the Panama Canal Authority is increasing their fees, reducing the weight of ships and paring the frequency of crossings. The result of these measures is a growing queue of ships, longer transits, added costs and fewer containers. It is expected these restrictions will be in place for next ten months. The drought and the contentious east coast labor contract negotiations are presenting challenges to shippers.

The above video is interesting but is about 14.5 minutes long. It covers the building of the canal, how it functions, why water is lost (3 minute mark) and the impacts of a previous drought.

Latest News

KICKING THE ILA CAN DOWN THE ROAD

The International Longshoremen's Association's (ILA) strike was suspended on October 3rd after immense pressure by the Biden Administration on the members of United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) to sweeten the wage offer. The employer group originally offered a 32%...

HALLOWEEN HIGH JINX

We like to have fun on Halloween. We had smaller numbers dress up this year, but have no fear, we exerted enough peer pressure to ensure we have more next year. We had a scary clown, Carmen San Diego, a vampire, a zombie, an Oompa Loompa and an 80's tribute. Good...

GATE FEES INCREASING

The Extended Hour Gate Fee at SSA's terminal in Oakland will increase from $40 to $45 effective today, November 1, 2025. The fee is assessed on every container regardless of the time of day it is transacted. While this increase is specific to SSA, be prepared for the...

A TRUE ADVOCATE

Our hats are off to Dee Sova for being awarded the American Trucking Associations' John Lex Premier Achievement Award. Dee has been an outspoken supporter of the independent contractor model as well as for women in trucking. While we do not have the good fortune of...

SURVEY SAYS

The American Truck Research Institute (ATRI) surveys drivers and trucking companies annually to determine the top industry issues. This year, the respondents from California diverged rather sharply from the rest of the nation. Nationwide, the top three issues are: The...

Share This