Panama opened the long-delayed US$5.4 billion expansion of its shipping canal amid cheering crowds on Sunday, despite looming economic uncertainty in the shipping industry and a heated battle over billions in cost overruns.
China COSCO Shipping has won the draw for its container vessel Andronikos to make the ceremonial first transit through the Expanded Panama Canal during the waterway's inauguration on Sunday, June 26. The vessel, which has a maximum capacity of 9,400 TEUs, is 48.25 meters in beam and 299.98 meters in length.