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07 Jul 2017 / Panama Canal, Panama

Expanded Canal marks first anniversary

The Panama Canal has commemorated the one-year anniversary of the inauguration of its expanded Canal.

In its Monthly Canal Operations Summary for June 2017, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) states that over the past 12 months, the Expanded Canal’s performance has exceeded nearly all expectations, as global trade routes have been redrawn and its positive impact has been felt around the world.

Notable milestones include:

  • More than 1,500 Neopanamax vessels have transited the new locks. Containerships represent approximately 46.8% of traffic through the Expanded Canal, followed by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, which represent approximately 34.2% and 9.4%, respectively. Other segments such as bulk carriers, tankers, car carriers, and passenger vessels have also transited the new locks.
  • Panama Canal tonnage has increased by 22.2% when comparing fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2017.
  • On average, 5.9 vessels transited the Expanded Canal per day, surpassing original forecasts of two to three daily transits for the first year of operation.
  • The ACP has welcomed 15 new liner services to transit the Expanded Locks, as shipping lines continue to reroute their services to take advantage of the economies of scale offered by the Expanded Canal.

For information about operations in the Panama Canal contact GAC-Wilford & McKay at [email protected]

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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