The Journal of Commerce reports:
The Panama Canal Authority warned that the El Nino weather phenomenon could result in draft restrictions on the existing waterway as soon as April.
The restrictions could prevent vessels from loading to the full capacity of the locks, which normally can handle ships with tropical fresh-water drafts of as much as 39.5 feet.
The canal authority said in an advisory that based on weather forecasts and water consumption estimates for the upcoming months, the canal “is anticipating the possibility that sometime during April 2016 draft restrictions may be imposed.”