The Panama Canal reached a new milestone with the successful transit of four liquefied natural gas ships with beams of up to 160 feet through the Neopanamax locks in a single day.
The record set Monday breaks the one from April 17, 2018, when three LNG vessels transited through the waterway on the same day.
The Panama Canal Authority said Monday that Ribera del Duero Knutsen, with a cargo capacity of 173,000 m3, and Maran Gas Pericles, with cargo capacity of 174,000 m3, transited northbound, while Torben Spirit, with a cargo capacity of 174,000 m3, and Oceanic Breeze, with a cargo capacity of 155,300 m3, transited southbound, facilitating international trade between customers in South Korea, Japan, Chile and the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The Panama Canal announced changes to its transit reservation system in August to offer two slots per day to LNG vessels. The modifications took effect Monday and also allow lifting certain daylight restrictions for LNG vessels, as well as meetings between LNG vessels in opposite directions in Gatun Lake.
The record set Monday breaks the one from April 17, 2018, when three LNG vessels transited through the waterway on the same day.
The Panama Canal Authority said Monday that Ribera del Duero Knutsen, with a cargo capacity of 173,000 m3, and Maran Gas Pericles, with cargo capacity of 174,000 m3, transited northbound, while Torben Spirit, with a cargo capacity of 174,000 m3, and Oceanic Breeze, with a cargo capacity of 155,300 m3, transited southbound, facilitating international trade between customers in South Korea, Japan, Chile and the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The Panama Canal announced changes to its transit reservation system in August to offer two slots per day to LNG vessels. The modifications took effect Monday and also allow lifting certain daylight restrictions for LNG vessels, as well as meetings between LNG vessels in opposite directions in Gatun Lake.