Postponed draft decrease extends fully-laden Suezmax transits 49-foot draft restriction limits Suezmax tankers, Neopanamax container ship transits Waiting times for transit decrease to six days southbound The first draft reduction for the NeoPanamax locks to 49.5 feet, or 15.09 meters, in 2022 has been postponed to take effect on March 24, after it had been postponed first from March 1 to March 16, according to a recent advisory by the Panama Canal Authority. Not registered? Receive daily email alerts, subscriber notes & personalize your experience. Register Now Further the maximum authorized draft for ships transiting the Neopanamax locks will be decreased to 49.0 feet, or 14.94 meters effective March 29, the advisory said. The ACP first issued an advisory March 3, postponing the draft reductions due to recent precipitation in the Canal watershed, thus allowing the maximum authorized draft restrictions to remain at 50 feet, or 15.24 meters, […]