New Panama canal dimensions

The expanded Panama Canal will allow for ships with a breadth of approximately 49 meters, while the Maersk newbuilds will have a breadth of approximately 53.3 meters.

Last week Maersk announced the signing of a $1.1 billion newbuilding contract for nine vessels with a 14,000 TEU capacity.

Maersk is strengthening its fleet with hull designs that can be deployed on East-West or North-South trades without impacting on fuel consumption. The reasoning is that while China remains the global manufacturing center, competitors like Mexico, Turkey and others are growing. Maersk is therefore preparing for new trade patterns, the company said in a statement.

“Upon signing the order, only the length of these nine 14,000 TEU container ships was stated: 353 meters, but meanwhile it has been confirmed that their breadth will be 53.3 meters,” says Dirk Visser, Senior Shipping Consultant at consultants Dynamar B.V. of the Netherlands. “Hence, they will actually be too large to sail via Panama and thus, perhaps, be less flexible than Maersk Line would have hoped.”

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