Panama Canal steps on to the gas

Four tankers laden with liquefied natural gas (LNG) passed through the Panama Canal for the fist time ever.

Two of the ships went from north south, and the two others in the opposite direction. The four were providing service to clients in South Korea, Japan, Chile and the US Gulf Coast.

On the basis of information on crossings bye more than 4,200 neo-Panamax vessels, the Canal has changed its reservations policy to offer two crossings by LNG tankers a day in each direction.