The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has decided that 36 ships a day is simply too many, announcing it will cut daily transits to 32 starting 15 September. The culprit? El Niño, the Pacific's favorite periodic warming pattern, which is apparently back and more dramatic than ever, with climate change adding extra spice.

The ACP informed shipping firms on Thursday, presumably with a sigh, that the reduction is necessary to keep things running smoothly and to save water for humans to drink - because apparently, even the canal is not immune to resource management drama. The authority noted that despite the rainy season arriving in Central America and some water-saving measures already in place, more action is needed "to support the long-term sustainability of transit operations." In other words, the canal is feeling the heat.

This comes as the shipping industry is already dealing with other headaches, like the Iran war slashing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, because global trade can't catch a break. The new measures will be phased in starting 3 September, so ships have a little time to adjust to the new, slightly less crowded canal.

The Panama Canal is the VIP shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, used by about 14,000 ships a year, operating 24/7 like a tireless, water-hungry beast. It's also a cash cow for Panama, raking in roughly $3bn (£2.2bn) a year. But even cash cows need water.

This isn't the first time El Niño has crashed the party. In 2023, the ACP had to cut vessel numbers after Panama experienced its driest October since records began in 1950. Since then, they've been trying to conserve water, but it seems Mother Nature has other plans. Forecasts suggest this year's El Niño could be one of the strongest ever recorded, disrupting weather, food supplies, and economies worldwide. So, if you were planning to send a ship through the canal, maybe book early - or invest in a submarine.