08.06.2018
Artikel Nummer: 23546
Another peak for Panama Canal
The Panama Canal continues to sail along on a beam reach: For the third time since the inauguration of the expanded canal in June 2016, the waterway set a new monthly tonnage record of 38.1 million t (PC/UMS) carried by 1,231 vessels in May 2018.
The previous records was established in January 2017 (36.1 million t PC/UMS), and December 2016 with 35.4 million t (PC/UMS). Containerships contributed highest tonnage (36%), which also peaked in May with 13.8 million t (PC/UMS) transited by 229 vessels.
The neopanamax locks inaugurated two years ago have attracted around 3,800 neopanamax vessels, around 50% of which are containerships. On 1 March, the “MSC Caterina” became the 3000th neopanamax vessel to transit the expanded canal. (kd)