Panamax is a船舶 size category used for ships that fit within the maximum dimensions permitted to pass through the Panama Canal before its expansion. It defines the largest vessel size that could transit the canal using the original lock system and the Lake Gatún route, with specific dimensional limits that vary slightly by source and measurement context. Key points
- Definition and origins
- The term Panamax designates ships built to the maximum size that could transit the Panama Canal under its original configuration. This category emerged from the canal’s lock dimensions and the need to optimize cargo while ensuring safe passage.
- Typical dimensions (historical criteria)
- Common references describe Panamax vessels as having a length around 294 meters (about 965 feet), a beam near 32.3 meters (roughly 106 feet), and a draft limited to around 12 meters (about 39.5 feet) in tropical fresh water conditions. Some sources give a maximum overall length near 304.8 meters and a beam around 32.3 meters as practical limits within the locks, with depth constraints varying by lock and location.
- Post-Panamax and Neopanamax
- After the canal was expanded in 2016, ships that exceed the original Panamax limits are now categorized as post-Panamax or Neopanamax, reflecting the new, larger lock dimensions. The Panamax limit is no longer the global upper bound for container ships, but it remains a historical reference and a still-relevant class in certain port and route planning contexts.
- Cargo and usage
- Panamax vessels historically carried a mix of containerized and bulk cargo. Even after the expansion, Panamax-sized ships (the original limits) continue to be used where port infrastructure or channel constraints favor ships in this size class, though many operators now deploy larger post-Panamax or Neopanamax ships where feasible.
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