Panama Canal links the Caribbean Sea (and therefore with countries bordering the entire Atlantic Ocean, including Europe and North America) with the Pacific Ocean (and therefore with countries bordering that ocean, including the huge shipping market of Asia.) The Canal begins on the Caribbean Sea side at Colon. Ships then proceed through the Gatun Locks that raise the ships 27 metres above sea level in three steps sea level to the Gatun Lake (the central water body in the Canal). Ships steam on through the Galliard Cut, a narrow waterway cut through hills and that provides a rather spectacular view to those aboard the ships as they pass through. The Pedro Miguel Locks take the ships down 9 meters in one step to the Miraflores Lake before ships enter the Miraflores Locks then take them down 18 metres in two steps to sea level. Ships pass through to the Pacific Ocean at Balboa.

Important cargoes that pass through the Canal – Containers, oil, oil products; grain; minerals, steel

Times when the Canal was in the news – A major expansion project was completed in 2016. This involved the following components:

• New sets of larger locks (one set at the Caribbean Sea end and one set at the Pacific Ocean end)
• Deepening the water level in the Gatun Lake
• Deepening other channels.

Through this project, the Canal now can accommodate ships that are about 400 metres long, and have a beam of 50 metres and a draught of 17 metres. This means that larger ships can pass through the Canal a feature that will expand trade between the US east coast ports and Asia.

A tug assisting the Teekay gas tanker Oak Spirit through the new locks in the Panama Canal. Photograph : Teekay

The gas tanker Oak Spirit in the new lock system in the Panama Canal. Photograph : Teekay