More than 60 Vessels Transit the Expanded Panama Canal

The Expanded Panama Canal has transited 69 Neopanamax vessels since the Inauguration on June 26, 2016. Specifically, 40 containerships, 24 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers, three vehicle carriers and two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers have transited the Expanded Canal. These LNG vessels were the first to transit the waterway since the Canal opened trade possibilities to this new market segment.

In addition, the Panama Canal has received 250 reservations and counting for the Expanded Canal, including seven cruise ship reservations. Since the Expanded Canal opened for business, major liners have rerouted service to the Panama Canal to take advantage of the significant time savings the waterway provides. For example, the 2M Alliance, which includes shipping liners Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Co., announced in July that they are rerouting Asia to U.S. East Coast service to the Panama Canal.

The significant demand shown by the maritime industry reinforces the need for the Expansion, its future potential, and the benefits it brings to global commerce and the world’s consumers.

“We are very pleased with the first month of operations at the Expanded Canal since the Inauguration,” said Panama Canal Administrator and CEO Jorge L. Quijano. “The increasing demand is further evidence of the maritime industry’s continued trust in the Expanded Canal, and the great impact it will have on the future of world maritime trade.”

Milestone transits for the Expanded Panama Canal, include the following:

June 26 – Inaugural transit and containership: COSCO Shipping Panama

June 27 – First liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier: NYK Lycaste Peace

July 6 – First vehicle carrier (RoRo vessel): NYK Iris Leader

July 25 – First LNG carrier: Maran Gas Apollonia

In addition, in July, the Panama Canal announced the first recipient of its Green Connection Award was Maran Gas Apollonia and Shell International Trading & Shipping Company.  This acknowledged their commitment to reducing emissions by using the Panama Canal route. By transiting the Panama Canal Green Route, the Shell-chartered Maran Gas Apollonia contributed to the environment using the shorter route and reducing CO2 emissions.

Canal operational testing and training remains a priority. More than 50 trial lockages have taken place in the Agua Clara Locks with the Panama Canal-chartered Neopanamax dry bulker, MV Baroque, since the beginning of June. The vessel is used to conduct testing and training of the new locks. Pilots transiting the Neopanamax vessels are very skilled and experienced with at least 16 years transiting vessels at the Panama Canal.

“We look forward to setting more milestones and making more progress to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations and the quality of service they have come to expect at the Panama Canal,” said Administrator Quijano. “Our commitment to our customers and the maritime industry is paramount.”