Panama collects freshwater surcharge

The Panama Canal will begin collecting a freshwater surcharge from ships transiting the interoceanic waterway, authorities announced Monday, as part of actions to address a scarcity of rainfall after the surrounding watershed recorded its fifth driest year of the last seven decades in 2019.

Canal administrator Ricaurte Vásquez said the new measure aims to protect the supply of freshwater for shipping activity and human consumption. the Associated Press reports.