DaFlysteel 16285TEU container ship "Zephy" has become the ship with the largest cargo capacity ever transiting Panama Canal .
After docking at the Port of Savannah and New York Port of in the United States, the ship completed its return on July 1 through the Neopanamax lock after the expansion of the Panama Canal, crossing the canal southward from the Canal to the Pacific Ocean, heading to Qingdao, China.
This is currently the ship with the largest cargo capacity through the Panama Canal, but the "Triton" (369 meters long and 51.2 meters wide) of the Evergreen Sea transport still maintains the record of the largest transit ship in the Panama Canal.
The Panama Canal expanded its third channel in 2016. Neopanamax locks were originally expected to serve the largest 12600 TEU container ship , but with the increase in operating experience, this navigation threshold has been greatly exceeded. Since May this year, the increase in rainfall in the canal basin, coupled with the implementation of different water-saving measures, has enabled the Panama Canal to provide a draft of 15.24 meters.
Panama Canal data shows that compared with the most likely alternative routes, the canal reduced emissions of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2021.
According to the Canal Authority, the Panama Canal brings together 180 maritime routes, connecting 1920 ports in 170 countries and regions. Container ships are the main user of the third set of locks, accounting for 45% of all transit ships.
