Ilya Espino de Marotta took over Monday as head of the Panama Canal Authority at a critical time in the waterway's history.

The 50-mile marine shortcut between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans that carries 40% of U.S. containerized trade is struggling to meet shipping demand because of persistent low water levels caused by little rainfall. The canal is also at the center of a geopolitical struggle between the U.S. and China over control of global trade routes.

Espino de Marotta is familiar with the canal's environmental and geopolitical challenges. A marine engineer by training, she started working at the canal in 1985 when it was controlled by the U.S. She witnessed its handover to Panama in 1999 and rose through the authority's ranks, eventually overseeing a massive project to widen the waterway to accommodate larger ships.

Espino de Marotta talked with the WSJ Logistics Report about the canal authority's plans to deal with the El Niño weather pattern, expected to be the strongest in decades, and about the recent record $5.3 million paid by a tanker for priority passage through the canal.

The Panama Canal is delaying an October cut in the maximum authorized draft for the largest ships that use the waterway. (The Maritime Executive)

Outgoing Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez Morales used his farewell to defend the canal's independence. (The Rio Times)

Quote of the Day

Logistics Technology

The Chinese-European electric trucking startup that was supposed to rival Tesla is running low on funds-and workers. At Windrose Technology, about 100 Chinese employees-most of the startup's workforce in that country-have departed after it fell behind on wages. Windrose also made only a partial payment of back wages to the Chinese workers to meet an Aug. 30 deadline agreed on by Chinese arbitrators, according to people familiar with the matter.

The WSJ Logistics Report writes that complaints from Chinese workers echo those of former American employees who say they are owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in back wages. Wen Han, Windrose's co-founder and chief executive, said he is restructuring the business to operate with fewer workers and attract more investment. Han said this leaner version of the company aims to pivot from designing truck bodies to developing and improving software for trucks made by contract factories.

The Port of New York and New Jersey is launching incentive programs totaling $45 million for the purchase of battery-electric trucks. (Transport Topics)

Number of the Day

Average price per kilogram for global airfreight shipments in August, up 24% from last year, according to Xeneta.

In Other News

The U.S. added a stronger-than-expected 162,000 jobs in August. (WSJ)

Brent crude oil futures neared $100 a barrel Tuesday after Houthi militants in Yemen targeted energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. (WSJ)

U.S. diesel prices hit a record high $5.90 a gallon on Friday. (WSJ)

U.S. gasoline prices rose to a Labor Day record of $4.15 on Monday, 33 cents higher than the prior record set in 2012. (WSJ)

The U.S. said it struck three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday after Iran launched ballistic missiles toward two Navy warships. (WSJ)

Oil may rally to as much as $120 a barrel if attacks on shipping in the Middle East increase, Goldman Sachs warned. (WSJ)

Iran's oil export revenue is drying up as a U.S. naval blockade strangles shipments from the Persian Gulf and offshore stockpiles feeding China dwindle. (WSJ)

Accident investigators are probing what caused an Amazon.com cargo plane to overshoot the runway at Miami International Airport, killing five people. (WSJ)

Federal regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla and the company's steering-wheel-free Cybercab. (WSJ)

German exports declined 0.8% on month in July, marking the first retreat since January, according to the country's statistics agency. (WSJ)

China's trade surplus widened to $119.1 billion in August from $112.5 billion in July. (WSJ)

Singaporean air cargo giant SATS reported surging revenues as companies rush equipment to the Middle East to repair damaged infrastructure. (Financial Times)

The Port of Oakland is advancing a $642 million harbor widening project for larger ships. (gCaptain)

Logistics operator DP World will build a new temperature-controlled logistics hub in the Port of Antwerp. (Marine Insight)

China's Cosco rejected U.S. allegations its ships are used to collect military intelligence for Beijing. (Splash247)

Germany's Hapag-Lloyd is working with the Israeli government on improvements to its proposed $4.2 billion cash purchase of ZIM Integrated Shipping Services. (Reuters)

South Korea's Samsung lodged a complaint with the Federal Maritime Commission seeking $186 million in damages from France's CMA CGM related to detention and demurrage charges. (The Loadstar)

About Us

Mark R. Long is editor of WSJ Logistics Report. Reach him at mark.long@wsj.com. Follow the WSJ Logistics Report team on LinkedIn: Mark R. Long, Liz Young and Paul Berger.

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