Super El Nino and the Amazon waterways - drought, draught, delays and the potential for Defence disputes
A Super El Niño event is predicted for the second half of 2026. Characterised by unusually strong warming of surface waters in the Pacific Ocean, Super El Niño events can significantly disrupt global weather patterns, leading to droughts, flooding and other extreme weather conditions.
For the maritime industry, these impacts can affect navigational safety, port operations, supply chains and the performance of commercial contracts. One area of particular concern is the Amazon basin, where drought conditions may have significant consequences for inland waterway transportation.
Brazilian lawyers, RC Law, have alerted that this Super El Niño prediction means that significant delays are likely to arise when transiting the Amazon waterways, with reduced river draught reducing the quantity of cargo that can be safely carried and leading, for example, to terminal congestion, longer transit time and transshipment costs. These factors, in turn, may give rise to disputes under Members’ charter parties.
If you would like further information about how this may impact the safety of navigation, please contact your usual contact in Loss Prevention at https://www.westpandi.com/Loss-Prevention. For advice and assistance in disputes arising under your charter parties and/or Defence claims, please contact your usual contact in claims at https://www.westpandi.com/Products/Standard-Covers/Defence at WEST. For information about WEST’s sustainability, see https://www.westpandi.com/News-and-Resources/Shipping-and-the-environment and https://www.westpandi.com/about-us/sustainability.
With thanks to Larry Carvalho at Brazilian law firm RC Law at rclawbr.com.