First voyage through expanded Panama canal Sunday June 26,2016

Chinese freighter begins first voyage through expanded Panama Canal

 

A giant Chinese container ship has become the first vessel to move from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean via the newly-enlarged Panama Canal on Sunday June 26,2016 in the inaugural trip through the vital waterway.

The Panamanian President, Juan Carlos Varela, described the waterway as a route that would unite the world.

The president thanked the nearly 30,000 people who had worked on the canal's expansion.
Construction on the new lane for the canal, which runs for 77km (48 miles), began in 2007 and was due to finish in 2014.

But strikes and disputes over costs delayed the $5.2bn (£3.8bn) project.

The ship was greeted with fireworks and cheers from a crowd that had gathered at the Cocoli locks to celebrate. 

 

Crowds of thousands gathered alongside the canal cheered as the vessel Cosco Shipping Panama began its journey, entering from the Atlantic en route to the Pacific in a trip due to take about eight hours.

The expanded canal will be able to handle a new class of ships that carry three times as much cargo as before.