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The traffic flow through the Panama Canal increased by 22.2% in comparison with the previous year & amounted to 403.8 million PC/UMS – a measure of cargo turnover through the channel based on clean capacity – this is the message from the administration.
At the same time, the number of vessels passing through the channel increased only at 3.3%, to 13.55 thousand units.
Largest new transports
The largest ship that passed through the Panama Canal was the container ship CMA CGM named in honor of Theodore Roosevelt. Its length is 365.96 meters, width – 48.252 meters, the maximum capacity – 14 863 TEU. Next, the ship went to the port of New York/New Jersey & became the first container ship of this class, which passed under the Beyonc Bridge after increasing the height of its spans.
The new locks of the Panama Canal, which were opened in June last year, are 21 meters wider & 5.5 meters deeper than the old ones, through which 3 times more Panamax vessels can pass container ships.
Currently, through the Panama Canal come 29 line services routes, 15 of which involve Neopanamax vessels.
Financial turnover
Container carriers continue to lead in the structure of traffic through the channel: they account for 35.3% of its total cargo turnover, namely 143 million PC/UMS. Of this volume, 89.1 million PC/UMS passed through new gateways. The tankers, including gas carriers, accounted for 105 million PC/UMS. The third place is occupied by the bulk segment (79 million PC/UMS), the fourth – by car carriers (47 million PC/UMS).
Geographical aspect
From the point of view of the service geography, 34% of the Panama Canal’s cargo turnover fell on routes connecting Asia with the Eastern coast of the United States. On the second place are services between the Western coast of South America (SA) & the Eastern coast of the United States (13%), 7% each account for the share of the market of routes between the Western coast of SA & Europe, the Western coast of Central America & the Eastern coast of the United States & 5% between the coasts of SA.