TIM TIM
eMagazine
Vol.1
Issue
eMagazine
Vol.1
Issue 12 5
Panama Canal Sets Daily
Tonnage Record In February
I
n February 2017, the Panama Canal set a new daily tonnage
record of 1.18 million Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS) after
welcoming a total of 1,180 vessels through both the
Expanded and original locks. The previous record was
established the month prior in January 2017 when the
Canal recorded a daily tonnage average of 1.16 PC/UMS.
With this achievement, February is the third-consecutive
record-breaking month for the Panama Canal. In December
2016 and January 2017, the waterway set monthly tonnage
records after transiting 35.4 million PC/UMS and 36.1 million
PC/UMS, respectively.
“These records are evidence of the maritime industry’s growing
adoption of the Expanded Canal,” said Panama Canal Administrator
Jorge L. Quijano. “As the new lane continues to reshape global
maritime trade and its true impact becomes more and more
apparent, we will continue to offer new growth opportunities to our
customers and cargo destinations around the world.”
Eight months since the Inauguration, approximately 850
Neopanamax vessels have transited the new locks, and 53% of
cargo transiting the waterway in container ships are using the
Expanded Canal. In addition, 11 new liner services have been
rerouted to take advantage of the economies of scale the Canal
offers. As the impact of the Expansion becomes more evident, this
number is expected to increase.
Further, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas
(LNG) vessels, as well as bulk carriers, tankers and vehicle carriers
have transited the Expanded Canal since it was operational in June
2016. And in April 2017, the first Neopanamax cruise ship, capable
of carrying up to 4,000 passengers, will transit the new locks.
Image Credits: micanaldepanama.com
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