Panama Canal: New Record

Posted on 2017-06-09

The Panama Canal set a new record in February 2017 after reaching a daily average of 1.18 million tons of the channel (PC/UMS), with 1,180 ships transit through the Canal expanded and original.

The previous record was established in January of 2017 with a daily average of 1.16 million PC/UMS tons to navigate 1,260 boats.

This is the third consecutive month of records for the Panama Canal. In December 2016 and January 2017, the inter-oceanic reached record tonnage in a month after reaching 35.4 million and 36.1 million PC/UMS tons, respectively.

"This new record shows continuous expanded channel to enhancing global maritime trade," said the administrator of the Panama Canal, Jorge Luis Quijano. "The channel expanded continues to offer new growth opportunities both to our customers and to the ports of destination of the cargo in other countries."

Eight months after the start of operations, the expanded channel has received around 850 ships neopanamax. 53 percent of the cargo in container that passes through the inter-oceanic uses the expanded Canal. In addition, 11 new service lines have been placed on the route by Panama following advantages now offered the inter-oceanic. As to the impact of the expanded channel becomes more evident, it is expected that this number will increase.

In addition, ships liquefied petroleum (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as bulk carriers, tankers and portavehiculos have transited the channel expanded since its inauguration in June 2016. And in April 2017 first Cruiser neopanamax, capable of carrying up to 4,000 passengers, transit through the new locks.

Source: AN Panama