The LNG tanker Maria Energy completed the transit travelling southbound from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean on 29 July.
"The steady increase in neo-panamax transits reflects our customers’ confidence in the expanded Canal, particularly with our fastest-growing segment," said Panama Canal Administrator, Jorge L. Quijano. "This reaffirms the value and impact our route has had across global maritime trade, including the fast-growing LNG segment."
The Maria Energy was followed by another LNG tanker, the Maran Gas Alexandria, which also transited the new locks in the southbound direction on Sunday. Both vessels were loaded in Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass LNG export facility in Louisiana, USA.
Today, the waterway regularly transits two LNG vessels the same direction in the same day, and has demonstrated the ability to transit up to three vessels the same day in the same direction during periods of uncharacteristically high demand.
The Panama Canal announced in June that it will be lifting natural daylight restrictions for LNG transits from 1 October 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.
Of the 4,000 neo-panamaxes that have transited to date, roughly 52% have been from the container segment. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels constitute another 27% and LNG carriers, a relatively new segment to the Panama Canal, have been responsible for 10% of traffic. Dry and liquid bulk carriers, car carriers and cruise ships make up the remaining transits.
Other notable transits thus far include the MSC Anzu, which became the 1000th transit on March 19, 2017, the Cosco Yantian which registered the 2,000th transit on 26 September 2017, and the MSC Caterina which registered the 3,000th transit on 2 March 2018.
“Across all segments, the Panama Canal continues to ensure the waterway remains one step ahead of demand and able to offer the same service, flexibility and opportunity that it always has to keep global trade moving safely and swiftly,” Canal authorities said.
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