ACP allows longer ships in neo-panamax locks
Panama Canal increases maximum allowable length by just over three metres.
By Marc Allen
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has increased the maximum permissible length of vessels transiting the Panama Canal from 367.28m to 370.33m.
96.8% of the world’s containerships can now transit the canal. The increase to LOA means shipping lines will now have greater flexibility in making choices about routes and the construction of new vessels.
The announcement was made after a series of trial transits to confirm the safety of operations for vessels of the new maximum length and comes five years after the third set of neo-panamax locks were inaugurated on the canal on 26th June 2016.
The largest vessel — both in length and capacity — to transit so far has been Evergreen’s 369-metre-long Triton. Other large vessels to transit include the Talos and the Theseus.
