Test Runs Start for Panama Canal Expansion

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Test Runs Start for Panama Canal Expansion

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AGUA CLARA, Panama — Jun 9, 2016, 8:09 PM ET

The first test runs along the newly expanded Panama Canal began Thursday as tugs nudged the bulk cargo carrier Baroque into the first level of locks on the Atlantic side of the canal.

The expanded locks have increased the technical difficulty of maneuvering larger ships through the canal. But some of the challenges were eased by the weather during the test run, with it being a sunny day without much wind.

And the Baroque, at 836 feet in length, is not as big as the New Panamax behemoths, which measure up to 1,200 feet and which will begin transiting the waterway when it is opened.

The Baroque, rented for the operation, wasn't carrying cargo on the first run through the Agua Clara locks, which took about three hours.

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/test-runs-start-panama-canal-expansion-39732557

[Mika]

1. TPP here we go! eom

[tonyt53]

2. Not hardly. More like oil being sold to the highest bidder. The US is now exporting oil legally

[Agnosticsherbet]

3. This is about moving cargo ships too big for the canal through it...

There have been discussions about expanding it going back to the late 60's.

Many modern cargo ships do not use it. They are too big. The largest cargo carriers, the Maersk Tripple-E may still be too large, but there are a lot of ships that will take advantage of the canal to shorten travel times.