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(https://gcaptain.com/join-the-club/?mt_source=HambugerNavigation) Sign Up (https://gcaptain.com/?memberful_endpoint=auth) Sign In   Don’t Miss Your Daily Briefing for the Maritime Industry Join the leading maritime news network — trusted by our 107,080 members  (user)   () (Enter your email)  ()  (Subscribe)        (https://www.facebook.com/gCaptain-27223368885/) (facebook)  (https://www.instagram.com/gcaptain) (instagram)  (https://twitter.com/gCaptain) (twitter)      (Ships Take Long Way Around as Drought Snarls Panama Canal)  A drone view of the Panamanian?flagged Crimson Delight vessel sailing through the Panama Canal as the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) said on Thursday it is closely monitoring a surge in detentions of Panama?flagged vessels in China, a development that appears linked to a Panama court ruling against Hong Kong?based CK Hutchison, in Gamboa, Panama, March 27, 2026. REUTERS/Enea Lebrun     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Ships Take Long Way Around as Drought Snarls Panama Canal (https://gcaptain.com/author/bloomberg/) Bloomberg Total Views: 353   October 7, 2026   (Bloomberg) — Maritime traffic through the Strait of Magellan jumped more than 70% both in August and September from year-ago levels as ships diverted from the (https://gcaptain.com/tag/panama-canal-drought/) drought-stricken Panama Canal , Chilean Navy data requested by Bloomberg show. Sparse rainfall linked to El Niño lowered water levels in the Panama Canal, prompting authorities to restrict crossings. Middle East disruptions have also prompted some operators shipping goods from South America and West Africa to Asia to avoid the region and likely reroute through the Strait of Magellan, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Kenneth Loh said. “The drought in Central America has certainly been the primary culprit,” he said. “That has also compelled many shipowners and operators to pay extraordinarily hefty fees to skip queues. For ships that wish to avoid these transit restrictions, long queues or high fees, rerouting via Magellan presents a natural alternative.”  The shifts highlight how climate and geopolitical disruptions at major maritime chokepoints are reshaping global trade routes and increasing the importance of alternatives. While sailing through the Strait of Magellan adds distance and fuel costs, its toll-free passage offers shipowners another option when constraints elsewhere drive up delays and transit costs. The surge in traffic, which began in July, also coincided with the winter season, when heavy snowfall in the Andes slowed truck traffic between Chile and Argentina, according to the latest available data from the Punta Arenas Maritime Governor’s Office, part of the Chilean Navy. The upward trend is expected to continue in the coming months as the cruise season gets underway, it said. The increase was detected among vessels of between 60,000 and 65,000 gross register tons, or GRT, though the Navy did not provide details on the types of vessels involved. The data are based on local pilotage statistics for 2025 and 2026, covering Jan. 1, 2025 through Sept. 24, 2026. © 2026 Bloomberg L.P.  Tags: (https://gcaptain.com/tag/drought/) drought  (https://gcaptain.com/tag/panama-canal/) panama canal  (https://gcaptain.com/tag/panama-canal-drought/) panama canal drought   (logo)  Subscribe for Daily Maritime Insights Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update — trusted by our 107,080 members  (user)   () (Enter your email)  ()  (Subscribe)        (https://gcaptain.com/attacks-on-tankers-in-hormuz-hit-highest-of-any-week-since-start-of-iran-war-sources-say/)  Prev (https://gcaptain.com)  Back to Main (https://gcaptain.com/new-maryland-defense-shipyard-gets-6-6-billion-commitment-and-trump-visit/) Next      (gCaptain-logo)   Stay Informed. Stay Connected.  Get The Daily Insights That Power Maritime Professionals Worldwide Essential maritime and offshore news, insights, and updates delivered daily straight to your inbox — trusted by our 107,080 members  (user)   () (Enter your email)  ()  (Subscribe)     Have a news tip? 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October 6, 2026 Total Views: 493      (https://gcaptain.com/panama-canal-adds-transit-capacity-as-rainfall-brings-relief/) (An aerial view of a containership in the Panama Canal's neopanamax locks)    (https://gcaptain.com/category/news/) News  (https://gcaptain.com/panama-canal-adds-transit-capacity-as-rainfall-brings-relief/) Panama Canal Adds Transit Capacity as Rainfall Brings Relief  The Panama Canal is easing restrictions on vessel draft and daily transits after improved rainfall and water-saving measures helped stabilize conditions in the waterway’s drought-sensitive watershed. The Panama Canal Authority said the... September 28, 2026 Total Views: 2682      (https://gcaptain.com/low-rhine-levels-force-companies-to-adapt-to-new-normal/) (An inland vessel passes a river bed that is almost dry due to low water levels of the Waal River in Nijmegen, Netherlands August 7, 2022. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw)    (https://gcaptain.com/category/shipping/) Shipping  (https://gcaptain.com/low-rhine-levels-force-companies-to-adapt-to-new-normal/) Low Rhine Levels Force Companies To Adapt To New Normal  By Eva Brendel and Marilen Martin Sep 26, 2026 (Bloomberg) –The halls of the Development Center for Ship Technology and Transport Systems in Duisburg, Germany are lined with model ships, small-scale... 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