Canal

Panama Canal Sets New Tonnage Record

The Panama Canal set a mark in its history as it reached a new tonnage record of 333.7 million Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS) during fiscal year 2012 which concluded on September 30.  This achievement highlights the value of Panama and its significance as a link in the chain of global trade.   "This milestone attests to the reliable and continuous service offered by the Canal, which is supported by a workforce of 10,000 men and women. The Panama Canal works tirelessly to provide its customers with first-rate service, including new products and services in response to their evolving shipping and maritime needs," said Panama Canal Authority Administrator/CEO Jorge Luis Quijano.   Preliminary figures showed that the Panama Canal closed fiscal year 2012 with 333.7 million Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS).  This figure represents an increase of 11.6 million Panama Canal tons or 3.6% compared to the 322.1 million tons registered last year, and also surpasses the previous 2007 record of 312.9 million tons.  (Under PC/UMS, a mathematical formula is applied to the vessel´s total volume or cargo carrying capacity).   PC/UMS tonnage during the most recent fiscal years of the Panama Canal:     FY PC/UMS (in millions):   2002 235.1 2003 242.7 2004 266.9 2005 279.3 2006 297.8 2007 312.9 2008 309.6 2009 299.1 2010 300.8

Panamanians Vote Yes for Canal Expansion

The voting began on Sunday morning, where the enthusiasm and energy was apparent as each voter played their part in this historic event that determined the direction and future of the Canal and Panama. By law, expansion, or the “third set of locks project,” must be put to a vote in a popular referendum. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) presented its formal proposal to the Panamanian government in April. In the end, 78 percent voted for expansion, as of 9:30 p.m. EDT.

Panama Canal To Be Run As Business After Handover

The Panama Canal will be run as a competitive business for the benefit of the Panamanian people after it reverts to national control at year's end, the waterway's administrator said. "The Canal was run before on a break-even concept, like a public utility," Panama Canal Commission (PCC) administrator Alberto Aleman Zubieta told a lunch for members of the American Chamber of Commerce. "But it will be run on the corporate concept of profitability ... for the 2

U.S. Sec of Commerce Visits Panama Canal

U. S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutiérrez visited the Panama Canal today as part of an official Panama tour. Panama Canal Authority Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta met Secretary Gutiérrez and the U.S. delegation at the Miraflores Locks, where he explained how the waterway works and provided details on the progress of the Canal's expansion. Expansion will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of locks

200 Years of Erie Canal History

April 2011 marks the 200th anniversary of the key decisions for the construction of the Erie Canal, a monumental public works project that transformed the economy of New York State.   Two centuries ago, on April 8, 1811, the state Legislature approved a measure that set into motion the construction of the Erie Canal. This followed the delivery of a report on March 2, 2011 of a report by the original Commission.  

Panama Canal Authority Proposes New Pricing Structure

The Panama Canal Authority released a formal proposal to change its pricing structure to move toward a market-oriented business model that allows for greater customer service and continual improvements to the Canal. As global trade continues to expand, the shipping industry has evolved significantly and the Canal's 90-year-old pricing structure needs to be changed to meet the increasing demands of a dynamic market place.

88 Qatari Ships Carrying LNG Passed Suez Canal Last Year

Eighty-eight vessels from Qatar bearing cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) used the Suez Canal in 2006. Of these, 74 were bound for Spain, six to France, five to Belgium and three to other destinations, according to Ahmed El Manakhly, Director of the Planning and Research Department at the Suez Canal Authority. With these vessels having a draft of around 40 feet, the Suez Canal would have more than adequate depth to allow them to pass through

Panama Canal Authority Reduces Time

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced that it has reduced by 16.6 percent, the time a vessel spends in Canal waters until it completes its transit through the waterway. The average Canal Waters Time (CWT) for 2001-2002 was 26.2 hours, compared to an average CWT of 31.4 hours for 1999-2000. The difference represents a 5.2-hour average savings to vessels on each trip through the Canal. Moreover, the reduction was more dramatic for shippers using the Canal's "reservation system

Cruise Ship Returns to Erie Canal

Grande Mariner was Stranded on Canal System During 2011 Flooding. The M/V Grande Mariner, a 96-passenger cruise ship that was stranded for more than two months because of flooding in 2011, today returned to the Erie Canal for a new season of cruising America's most storied waterway. The ship, and a sister-ship, M/V Niagara Princes, both owned by Blount Small Ship Adventures in Warren, R.I., was among a handful of ships stranded on the New York State Canal system because of destructive high

ACP Announces FY2003 Metrics

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) today announced 2003 fiscal year metrics, ending in September. These metrics indicate that the ACP's recent operational and capital improvements continue to yield positive results, with the Canal safer and more efficient than it has ever been in its 89-year history. Year-end statistics reveal an increase in tonnage flow through the Canal and a reduction in Canal Waters Time (CWT), the average time it takes a vessel to navigate the Canal including waiting