Largest vessel to date traverses expanded Panama Canal

The COSCO Development, a huge container vessel, on Tuesday became the largest ship to date to traverse the newly expanded locks of the Panama Canal. The ship, which is 366 meters (1,200 feet) long and 48 m (157 ft.) wide, can transport up to 13,435 containers and is en route from Asia to the US East Coast. It began its journey through the Canal early Tuesday morning on the Pacific side at the Cocoli locks, waterway authorities said. Panama Canal Authority administrator Jorge Luis Quijano said that if all the containers the ship is carrying were laid end to end the resulting chain would measure about 80 kilometers (50 miles). 

FOTO: The COSCO Development vessel, with capacity to transport up to 13,435 containers, transits the Agua Clara lock through the canal expansion, on the Atlantic slope in Colon, Panama, May 2, 2017. EFE/Alejandro Bolívar