US East Coast ports race to dig deeper for giant ships of expanded Panama Canal

US East Coast ports from New York to Miami simply aren't deep enough to handle mammoth vessels that measure 1,100 feet long with space for 8,500 cargo containers.

But with a major expansion of the Panama Canal projected to be finished by the end of 2014, these gargantuan vessels will be able to sail between Asia and the US East Coast.

The canal expansion is pitting seaports up and down the Atlantic coast in a race to dig deeper harbors capable of handling the so-called post-Panamax ships.

Original source: Associated Press