LNG carrier registers 4,000th Panama Canal transit

July 30, 2018

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On 29 July, the Panama Canal registered the transit of its 4,000th Neopanamax vessel through the Expanded Canal, with the transit of the LNG tanker Maria Energy from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Of the 4,000 vessels that have transited to date, roughly 52 percent have been from the container segment. LPG vessels constitute another 27 percent, and LNG carriers have been responsible for 10 percent of traffic.

Panama Canal Administrator, Jorge L. Quijano mentioned that the steady increase in Neopanamax transits reflected its customers’ confidence in the Expanded Canal. Also he commented that this reaffirmed the value and impact its route had across global maritime trade, including the fast-growing LNG segment.

The Panama Canal announced in June that it will be lifting natural daylight restrictions for LNG transits on October 1, 2018, to offer added capacity to shippers. By lifting encounter restrictions, LNG vessels will also be able to navigate Gatun Lake at the same time, allowing two different LNG vessels to transit the Canal the same day in two different directions, offering more flexibility to the segment.

Edited from Panama Canal Authority press release.