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来源：Offshore Energy 2023-06-22
翻译：国际海事信息网 顾晋瑄 张运鸿

        巴拿马运河管理局本周三表示，巴拿马运河是世界最繁忙的贸易通道之一，但因气候干旱导致运河水域变浅，其将加强对驶经运河最大船只的限制措施。

        管理局自年初以来便因干旱对50英里（约80公里）的巴拿马运河实施了一系列船舶深度限制，而后其又进一步采取了该强化措施。当局曾希望在中美洲国家的雨季开始前缓解这一问题。

        此域的集装箱船和油轮船舶交易都会途经位于大西洋和太平洋之间的巴拿马运河，约占全球贸易的3.5%。

        新的限制措施将于本周日生效，即将新巴拿马型集装箱船的深度限制在43.5英尺（约13.3米）以内。这意味着该类船舶必须减少载货量或减轻重量以便浮得更高。

        运河船舶之前的最大吃水达44.0英尺。

        港口管理部门在路透社（Reuters）刊登的一篇咨询中告诉客户，使用运河老式船闸的巴拿马型船舶也将在7月9日受到更严格规定的限制。

        运河管理部门会于7月19日进一步采取对这两类船舶的限制措施。

        港口管理员Ricaurte Vasquez表示，7月19日的举措内容取决于涌入运河周围湖泊系统的雨水量。他称目前缺乏降雨量是一件“令人担忧”的事情，因为运河流域还必须为居民提供额外的饮用水。

        “厄尔尼诺”（El Nino）这种周期性变暖的天气现象，给太平洋沿岸造成了严重的干旱。

        Vasquez称，尽管新规则限制了船舶的重量，但目前为止，通过运河的船舶流量一直在按预期进行。

        然而，他也警告道，目前的情况可能会受到影响，这取决于降雨量和新限制导致的更高航线成本。

        据运河管理局称，这些限制不会对液化天然气（LNG）船舶产生影响，因为此类船舶通常报告的吃水高度为37英尺。

        （本文版权归国际海事信息网所有，图片版权归原作者，转载请注明出处。）

Drought-hit Panama Canal Further Restricts Maximum Ship Depth

The Panama Canal will expand restrictions on the largest ships crossing the waterway, one of the world's busiest trade passages, the canal authority's administrator said on Wednesday, citing shallower waters due to drought.

The measure follows a series of depth restrictions in the 50-mile (80 km) canal since the beginning of the year due to a drought, which authorities had hoped would ease by the start of the Central American country's rainy season.

Ship traffic, including container ships and oil tankers, using the canal between the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean accounts for about 3.5% of global trade.

The new restrictions, which will take effect Sunday, limit neo-Panamax container ships to a depth limit of 43.5 feet (13.3 metres) meaning they must either carry less cargo or shed weight in order to float higher.

The previous maximum draft was 44.0 feet.

Panamax ships, which use the canal's older locks, will also face tighter rules on July 9, the port administration told clients in an advisory seen by Reuters.

Both classes will see a further limit applied on July 19.

Port administrator Ricaurte Vasquez said the July 19 measure will depend on how much rain pours into the lake system surrounding the canal, calling the current lack of rainfall "worrisome" as the canal basin must also provide additional drinking water for residents.

El Nino, a periodic warming weather phenomenon, has brought a severe drought along the Pacific coast.

Despite the new rules limiting ships' weight, Vasquez said the flow of ships through the canal has carried on as expected so far.

He warned this could, however, see an impact depending on rainfalls and higher route costs due to the new limits.

The limits will not affect liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, as they typically report drafts of up to 37 feet, according to the canal authority.

来源：simic