PANAMA CITY - The Panama Canal, an engineering wonder allowing ships to travel between two oceans, is seeking to adapt to climate change after a biting drought has seen traffic and income dry up.
The canal relies on rainwater to move ships through a series of locks that function like water elevators, raising the vessels up and over the continent between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
"The big disadvantage that the Panama Canal has as a maritime route, is that we operate with freshwater, while others use seawater," said Vasquez during a presentation to the media."We have to find other solutions to remain a relevant route for international trade. If we don't adapt, we are going to die."
Since then, more than a million vessels have transited through the canal, saving them a lengthy journey around the tip of South America.Meteorologist Alcely Lau told AFP that the country has"observed considerable deficits" in rainfall this year, boosted by El Nino. For each ship, 200 million liters of freshwater is used to move it through the locks before being dumped into the sea.
If the drought and resulting restrictions continue, Vasquez fears shipping companies will"opt for other routes."
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