The Panama Canal, taking advantage of its geographic position, has modified international trade, saving time, distance and costs in the maritime transportation of products between different countries.
Our interoceanic waterway connects 180 maritime routes that reach 1,920 ports in 170 countries around the world, offering great advantages to global trade.
In addition, its connectivity has positioned our country as a logistics, transportation and services center, generating greater opportunities for the country’s development.
As this month marks six years since its inauguration, we review some of the most relevant aspects of its recent history.
Milestones of the Expanded Canal
- Since the inaugural passage of the Cosco Shipping Panama on June 26, 2016, the Neopanamax Locks have recorded more than 17,000 transits through June of this year.
- The container vessel segment continues to be among the expanded Canal’s main customers, with 46.59 % of transits, followed by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels 22 % and liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels, with 10.99 % of transits.
- Following its expansion, the Panama Canal increased the maximum length (length) in the Neopanamax Locks from 367.28 meters to 370.33 meters.
- Currently, 96.6% of the world’s fleet of container ships can transit through the interoceanic waterway.
- Since their inauguration, the Neopanamax Locks have contributed more than 50% of the tonnage and revenues of the interoceanic waterway. As a result, new markets have opened up with the Neopanamax Locks.
- Thus, the first liquefied petroleum gas vessel to transit the new locks was the Lycaste Peace, one day after its opening, on June 27, 2016. A month later, on July 25, 2016, the Maran Gas Apollonia became the first liquefied natural gas vessel to transit the interoceanic waterway.
- The expanded Canal also allowed the passage for the first time of the Norwegian Bliss, the largest passenger vessel ever to transit the interoceanic waterway.
- Additionally, it has given passage to the world’s largest capacity car carriers, the first of which was the HÖEGH TARGET.
- And, more recently, the largest capacity container vessel that has transited the expanded Canal to date is the CMA CGM ZEPHYR with 16,285 containers.
- The numbers and milestones of our expanded Canal continue, and as we commemorate six years of operations, the success of its operations reflects the hard work, commitment and innovation of the Panama Canal team.