Drought causes queues and delays for ships passing through Panama Canal

Commercial ships are facing long queues and delays to travel through the Panama Canal as a lengthy drought in the Central American country has cut the number of vessels able to pass through one of the world's most important trading routes. In a fresh demonstration of the impact of the climate crisis on global business and trade, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), which manages the canal, introduced restrictions on the number of transiting vessels as a result of the drought. An extended dry season has reduced the availability of water, required to allow vessels to pass through the canal's locks,…