Panama Canal Celebrates 102nd Anniversary With Milestone 100th Transit Through New Locks

Today, the Panama Canal celebrated 102 years of successful operations and service to the global maritime community, just one day after welcoming its 100th transit through the Expanded waterway.

The two milestones punctuate a year for the Canal which has already been marked by a number of notable achievements.

Less than two months following the Expanded Canal’s historic June 26 Inauguration, the Neopanamax vessel Hanjin Xiamen became the 100th vessel to transit the new locks, passing through the Canal on the morning of Sunday, August 14. The Panama-flagged containership, which measures 294 meters in length and 40 meters in beam, made its northbound transit from the Pacific to Atlantic Ocean, destined for New York.

To ensure the continued reliability of the Canal over the past 102 years, constant maintenance of the original locks has been crucial. And, for that reason, the Panama Canal has invested more than $3.3 billion in improvements of the original waterway in the past 17 years alone.

Some of these investments include:

• Upgrades to its locomotive fleet and tracks;
• Installation of new tie-up and mooring stations to allow additional Panamax vessels to transit, adding tens of millions of tons to the Canal’s annual capacity;
• Deepening of all of the lake channels, increasing draft reliability;
• Replacement of high mast lights in the locks to provide better illumination and extend daylight-hour transits;
• Investments in the Canal’s tugboat fleet that grew from 20 units in year 2000 to 46 new modern units that have been equipped with greater maneuverability, power and technology;
• And, more precise aids to the Canal’s navigation and vessel tracking system.

“All of these investments were carried out with the purpose of providing greater reliability, safety and improved transit times,” said Panama Canal Administrator and CEO Jorge L. Quijano.

“After 102 years, the Panama Canal is rejuvenated thanks to the beginning of operations of the Expanded Canal, ongoing maintenance of its original infrastructure, and the commitment of its workforce of 10,000 talented men and women who make this route one of the main arteries of world maritime trade.”

These investments have also allowed the Panama Canal to grow the total amount of tonnage it handles each year, from 228 million Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS) in 1999, to a record-breaking 340.8 million PC/UMS last year—a 50 percent increase. It is expected that the Panama Canal will continue to increase its annual tonnage during the next five years to approximately 524 million PC/UMS.

A large source of this growth will be due in part to the Expanded Panama Canal. Since its Inauguration, the Expanded Panama Canal has received more than 297 reservations—a figure which continues to grow daily, reflecting the shipping industry’s confidence in the Canal and the impact it will have on the future of world maritime trade.

Upon completing their passage of the Expanded Canal Sunday, three of the four ships that transited the waterway called at Panamanian port terminals on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to discharge and load cargo on the way to their final destinations, thus making full use of the connectivity offered by the country.

“This is a trend which we expect to continue as the Panama Canal continues to invest in and solidify its position as the shipping and logistics hub of the Americas,” said Mr. Quijano.

Reference: micanaldepanama.com

Disclaimer :
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.

Latest Shipping News You Would Like:

U.S Navy And The Philippines Begin Joint Naval Drills In South China Sea Amidst Tensions With China

Posted on October 3, 2023

In a show of force against China amid ever growing tensions in the much-disputed waterway, defense allies the Philippines and the US started conducting combined naval activities on Monday.

Captain Of Cargo Ship Carrying €157million Worth Of Cocaine Appears In Wexford Court

Posted on October 3, 2023

The ship captain of the MV Matthew got a bail rejection after he appeared at the court on being charged over the €157 million cocaine seizure off the country’s south coast.

Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron Warships Arrive At Port Klang, Malaysia

Posted on October 3, 2023

As part of the Indian Navy’s log-range deployment in Southeast Asia, the vessels of the First Training Squadron (1TS)-ICGS Sarathi, INS Tir, and INS Sujata are visiting Malaysia’s Port Klang.

Environmental Groups Demand Rules To Protect The North Atlantic Right Whale From Ship Collisions

Posted on October 3, 2023

A coalition of environmental groups has been calling on the country’s federal government to have in place emergency rules to safeguard a fast-vanishing species of whale from collisions with large vessels.

U.S Navy And Lockheed Martin Fire Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile With A 4000 NM Range

Posted on October 3, 2023

The Fleet Ballistic Missile — One Trident II D5 Life Extension, was successfully launched on 27 September by Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy, off the coast of California.