A mammoth Chinese containership, the m/v COSCO Shipping Panama, on June 26 became the first ship to transit the expanded Panama Canal to mark the official opening of the wider and deeper Canal that can now handle over twice its former cargo capacity.

The Neopanamax containership COSCO Shipping Panama is 299.98 meters in length and has a gross tonnage of 94,300 tons. With a carrying capacity of 9,443 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), the containership was formerly named the Andronikos.

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It was renamed COSCO Shipping Panama by its owner, China COSCO Shipping, to praise the people of Panama for the honor of being selected the first ship to make the first transit through the expanded waterway. This ship was selected during a draw for the inaugural transit.

COSCO Shipping Panama set sail from the Greek Port of Piraeus on June 11 and will end its voyage in South Korea. It entered the Agua Clara Locks on the Atlantic side during the early morning of June 26 and exited at the Cocoli Locks in the afternoon.

COSCO Shipping Panama is a new vessel launched only last January. The ship's master is Captain Jude Rodrigues.

"I had transited the Panama Canal many times before and it has been a great experience, but being the master of the first vessel to transit the expanded Canal is an experience of a century," said Captain Rodrigues.

"The Panama Canal is testament to the diligence and wisdom of the people of Panama. The Panama Canal Expansion is a major event on itself and a milestone in global history. I would like to congratulate the people of Panama for their efforts and contribution to global economy."

During the inaugural transit of the COSCO Shipping Panama, thousands of people lined the Canal to mark its passage. Loud shouts of "Viva Panama (Long Live Panama)" rent the air as the containership slowly wound its way through the canal.

Panama's President Juan Carlos Varela said it "is an historic day for the country" and invited all people to celebrate this great success. He later tweeted "our Canal has entered a new era. Congratulations Panama!"

A representative from COSCO Shipping presented President Varela with a plaque that thanked Panama for having a COSCO ship as the first through the expanded Canal.

The volume of traffic will double at the expanded Canal since Neopanamax-class vessels carrying up to 14,000 TEUs will now be able to pass through. The Panama Canal Expansion Program is the largest construction project undertaken in the waterway since its opening in 1914.

TagsCOSCO Shipping Panama, Panama Canal, China COSCO Shipping, Captain Jude Rodrigues, President Juan Carlos Varela