SIMIC

Pre-canal expansion completed in 2016, it was hoped double ship capacity from 4,500-TEU to 9,000 TEU. It rapidly went up to 10,000-TEU and further developments brought it up to 13,000 TEU.

On July 1, the vessel completed its return trip through the expanded canal's neopanamax locks, which opened six years ago to accommodate the world's growing fleet of large containerships.

The neopanamax containership Zephyr has a total capacity of 16,285 TEU. After calling at New York and Savannah, the Zephyr sailed back southbound through the canal, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, en route to Qingdao.

While the neopanamax locks were initially expected to serve vessels with a maximum of 12,600 TEU the Panama Canal team quickly surpassed this threshold, thanks in part to the experience gained operating the locks and its close collaboration with customers.

Since its inauguration on June 26, 2016, the expanded canal has exponentially increased connectivity and reshaped trade, with 180 maritime routes now converging through the waterway, linking 1,920 ports across 170 countries.

Today, containerships are the leading users of the third set of locks, contributing 45 per cent of all transits.

"There's no better way to mark the anniversary of the expanded canal than with this month's Zephyr transit, which exemplifies the continued growth potential that it offers for our clients," said Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vasquez Morales.