New Panama Canal Handles 69 Ships Since Inauguration

A total of 69 Neopanamax vessels transited the Expanded Panama Canal since its inauguration on June 26, 2016.

Specifically, 40 containerships, 24 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers, three vehicle carriers and two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, the first for the waterway, have transited the canal. With these LNG vessels, the canal opened trade possibilities to this new market segment.

Additionally, 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.

“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,” Panama Canal Administrator and CEO Jorge L. Quijano said.

Canal operational testing of the new locks continued as the Panama Canal-chartered Neopanamax dry bulker, MV Baroque conducted more than 50 trial lockages in the Agua Clara Locks since the beginning of June.