Chinese freighter ‘Fortune Plum’ the millionth vessel to cross the Panama Canal

From Merco Press (full article)

“The ship 'Fortune Plum,' whose name foreshadowed its good luck, became the millionth vessel to cross the inter-oceanic canal since it was opened,” the Panama Canal Authority said in a statement.

Work began a year ago to enlarge the canal by constructing a third set of locks to ensure that today's super-size container ships, cruise liners, and oil tankers—many of which are too wide for the canal—will be able to navigate the waterway in the future.

The cost of the work has been put at some 5.2 billion, and should be complete by August 2014, on time for the celebration of the century since the canal's inauguration.

Since 1914 a million ships have crossed the 80-kilometer canal, through which five percent of the world's trade crosses every year.

The third set of locks, parallel to the existing two, would accommodate massive vessels 366 meters in length, 49 meters wide, and with a 15-meter draft. The goal is to double the cargo transported from 300 to 600 million tons.

The canal was built between 1903 and 1914 and the US held control of the strategic waterway during 85 years until 2000.

 

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