Everything you need to know.
The Panama Canal is an artificial waterway connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific. It stretches for about 82 km across Panama and allows ships to avoid the long journey around Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America.
The canal plays an important role in international trade and is of great importance for shipping. It opened in 1914 and has been an important passage for ships from all over the world ever since.
Three sets of locks allow a fast passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific or vice versa. A transit takes between 8 and 10 hours depending on traffic. Depending on gross register tonnage, the cost ranges from USD 300,000 to USD 1.2 million per transit.
The Panama Canal lock system
The Panama Canal has a lock system that allows ships to pass through the canal.
These locks are essential for raising and lowering ships as they travel between different water levels. The Panama Canal has three sets of locks: the Miraflores Locks, the Pedro Miguel Locks and the Gatun Locks.
The Miraflores Locks are on the Pacific side of the canal and have two chambers. They raise or lower ships a total of 54 feet (16.5 metres) to match the water level of Miraflores Lake.
The Pedro Miguel Locks, also on the Pacific side, have a single chamber that raises or lowers ships by 31 feet (9.5 metres) to match the water level of Gatun Lake.
Finally, the Gatun Locks are on the Atlantic side and have three chambers. They raise or lower ships a total of 85 feet (26 metres) to match sea level when leaving or the level of Gatun Lake when entering.
These locks use a combination of gravity and water flow to move ships through the canal. When a ship enters a lock chamber, the gates close and water is either drained or filled in to raise or lower the ship to the next level. Once the water level is equal, the front gates open and the ship can continue its journey through the canal.
The Panama Canal’s lock system is a remarkable engineering achievement and an essential part of canal operations, as it ensures the safe and efficient transit of ships between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
