The $1.6 Billion Plan To Fix The Panama Canal’s Drought Problem

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The Panama Canal is one of the world’s most vital shipping routes. About 14,000 vessels transit the waterway annually including about 40% of all U.S. container traffic. But recent droughts have plagued the artery. A drought in 2023 and 2024 forced the canal’s operator, the Panama Canal Authority, to enact weight restrictions and limit vessel transits to 18 ships per day. About 36 ships cross the canal daily. The drought was Panama’s worst in over 70 years. But how does a 50-mile long waterway connected by two oceans run low on water? To better understand the issue CNBC’s Lori Ann LaRocco boarded a tugboat and a motorized canoe to get a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges the canal faces. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:37 Panama Canal 6:02 Gatun Lake 10:18 Alternatives Produced and Shot by: Shawn Baldwin Reporter: Lori Ann LaRocco Edited by: Erin Black Additional Camera: Andrew Evers Animation: Jason Reginato Senior Director of Video: Jeniece Pettitt Translation: Silvana Henao, Antonio Jose Vielma » Subscribe to CNBC: » Subscribe to CNBC TV: » Watch CNBC on the go with CNBC+: About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more. Want to stand out, grow your network, and get more job opportunities? Sign up for Smarter by CNBC Make It's new online course, How to Build a Standout Personal Brand: Online, In P