Just got into summer season and rainy season never showed up at all, for this reason our authorities at this moment are allowing the transit of 22 vessels per day instead of the regular 36 transits per day.
They can wait in line for days or weeks, as low water levels limit the number of ships passing through the 50-mile waterway. They can pay millions of dollars to jump ahead in the queue, if a ship with a booked reservation drops out. Or they can sail an entire continent out of the way, sending their ships around the southern tips of Africa and South America, or through the busy Suez Canal.
Shipping companies are trying to pass along the extra costs to their customers. Hapag-Lloyd AG, and Maersk all have announced new Panama-related surcharges in recent months