zoomImage Courtesy: ACP

The Panama Canal set a new daily tonnage record in February 2017 of 1.18 million Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS) after welcoming a total of 1,180 vessels through both the expanded and original locks, the canal authority said.

The previous record was established the month prior in January 2017 when the canal recorded a daily tonnage average of 1.16 PC/UMS.

With this achievement, February is the third-consecutive record-breaking month for the Panama Canal. In December 2016 and January 2017, the waterway set monthly tonnage records after transiting 35.4 million PC/UMS and 36.1 million PC/UMS, respectfully.

“These records are evidence of the maritime industry’s growing adoption of the Expanded Canal,” said Panama Canal Administrator Jorge L. Quijano.

Eight months since the inauguration, approximately 850 Neopanamax vessels have transited the new locks, and 53% of cargo transiting the waterway in container ships are using the expanded canal. In addition, 11 new liner services have been rerouted to the canal, the authority said.

In April 2017, the first Neopanamax cruise ship, capable of carrying up to 4,000 passengers, will transit the new locks.