China Cosco 9,400-TEUer to be first through expanded Panama Canal
CHINA Cosco Shipping has won the draw for the first transit through the expanded Panama Canal during the waterway's inauguration on Sunday June 26, the canal authority announced.
The shipping line's 9,400-TEU Andronikos will be making the inaugural transit. The vessel is 8.25 metres abeam and 299.98 metres stem to stern, double the size of an old panamax ship.
In addition, more than 100 neopanamax ships have already made reservations for commercial transit through the new locks, which will begin on June 27, 2016, following the historic inauguration.
The draw took place at the Panama Canal Administration Building, in which a Notary Public served as witness. Among invited guests were the Norwegian/Swedish shipping line Wallenius Wilhemsen Lines (WWL) and the Chinese shipping line China Cosco Shipping to participate in the draw.
WWL participated with the car carrier Thalatta. The car carrier, which has a maximum capacity of 8,000 CEUs (car equivalent units), is 36.5 metres abeam and 199.97 metres long.
"It is a great honour to have one of our top customers celebrate this historical moment with us," said Panama Canal Administrator Jorge Quijano. "We are excited and prepared to continue providing the same reliable and efficient service within the Expanded Panama Canal that our customers have come to expect through the years."
The draw was carried out with ballots labelled with the name of each participant. The first ballot was chosen and given to the Notary Public, who opened and handed it to the administrator, who announced the winner.
Directly following the announcement, a second ballot was chosen for the shipping line - in this case WWL - that will deploy a vessel for the inaugural transit in the event that the winner informs the Panama Canal by May 10 that it will not be able to deploy an approved vessel.
The winner will incur in all costs associated with the transit, including booking fees and other marine services, which will be charged in accordance with Panama Canal published tariffs.
CHINA Cosco Shipping has won the draw for the first transit through the expanded Panama Canal during the waterway's inauguration on Sunday June 26, the canal authority announced.
The shipping line's 9,400-TEU Andronikos will be making the inaugural transit. The vessel is 8.25 metres abeam and 299.98 metres stem to stern, double the size of an old panamax ship.
In addition, more than 100 neopanamax ships have already made reservations for commercial transit through the new locks, which will begin on June 27, 2016, following the historic inauguration.
The draw took place at the Panama Canal Administration Building, in which a Notary Public served as witness. Among invited guests were the Norwegian/Swedish shipping line Wallenius Wilhemsen Lines (WWL) and the Chinese shipping line China Cosco Shipping to participate in the draw.
WWL participated with the car carrier Thalatta. The car carrier, which has a maximum capacity of 8,000 CEUs (car equivalent units), is 36.5 metres abeam and 199.97 metres long.
"It is a great honour to have one of our top customers celebrate this historical moment with us," said Panama Canal Administrator Jorge Quijano. "We are excited and prepared to continue providing the same reliable and efficient service within the Expanded Panama Canal that our customers have come to expect through the years."
The draw was carried out with ballots labelled with the name of each participant. The first ballot was chosen and given to the Notary Public, who opened and handed it to the administrator, who announced the winner.
Directly following the announcement, a second ballot was chosen for the shipping line - in this case WWL - that will deploy a vessel for the inaugural transit in the event that the winner informs the Panama Canal by May 10 that it will not be able to deploy an approved vessel.
The winner will incur in all costs associated with the transit, including booking fees and other marine services, which will be charged in accordance with Panama Canal published tariffs.