Panama Canal Implements Ship Limits Due to Drought

The Panama Canal has imposed new depth limits on large ships crossing between oceans due to the worst drought in a century, which could worsen with the occasional climate event El Nino bringing higher temperatures and less rain. Ships will have to offload cargo if the total weight would require more than 43.5 feet of water. The new restrictions will have a strong effect on trade routes between Northern Europe and the South American West Coast, as the canal handles 3.5% of global trade.