Images of Panamax Ships in the Panama Canal Locks
Images and a table that compares the sizes of
the old and new locks
as well as the old and new Panamax ship sizes.
| Locks | Panamax | New locks | New Panamax | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 1,050 ft (320.04 m) | 965 ft (294.13 m) | 1,400 ft (427 m) | 1,200 ft (366 m) |
| Width | 110 ft (33.53 m) | 106 ft (32.31 m) | 180.5 ft (55 m) | 160.7 ft (49 m) |
| Draft2 | 41.2 ft (12.56 m) | 39.5 ft (12.04 m) | 60 ft (18.3 m) | 49.9 ft (15.2 m) |
| Twenty-foot equivalent unit | 5,000 | 12,000 | ||
In these 2 images of the Zim Ontario container
cargo ship it barley fits
in the locks with little room to spare on each side.
From Wikipedia: Panamax and New Panamax are terms for the size limits for ships traveling through the Panama Canal. Formally, the limits and requirements are published by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) titled "Vessel Requirements" and other documents here at Notices to Shipping - Panama Canal.
"Panamax" has been in effect since the opening of the canal in 1914. Ships that do not fall within the Panamax-sizes are called Post Panamax or Super-Panamax. In 2009 the Canal management published the "New Panamax", that will be in effect when the third lane of locks, larger than the current two, are operational in 2014.
Max sizes also for Cruise Ships as we see in this image the Brilliance of the
Seas cruise ship
barley fits in the old locks.
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