COSCO Container Vessel Departs Greece to Make History
16th June 2016
Departing Greek Port of Piraeus today, COSCO Shipping Panama will make the inaugural transit of Expanded Panama Canal on Sunday, June 26
The container vessel COSCO Shipping Panama set sail from the Greek Port of Piraeus on 11 Jne 2016 on her way to Panama to make history. The Neopanamax vessel will make the inaugural transit of the Expanded Panama Canal on Sunday 26 June 26 after a 14-day journey.
Panama Canal Administrator Jorge L. Quijano met with COSCO Shipping Panama’s Captain Jude Rodrigues and crew members prior to the ship’s departure.
“I am very excited to be here today to witness the sailing of the ship from Greece, but also meet the Captain and his crew,” said Administrator Quijano. “We are very pleased to be here watching it leave from Port of Piraeus. He is very thrilled to be part of this inaugural transit.”
Cosco Shipping Panama is a new vessel launched on January 2016. The Neopanamax containership is 299.98m in length and 48.25ms in beam, and has a container carrying capacity of 9,472 TEUs.
Originally named Andronikos, the vessel was renamed by China COSCO Shipping to pay respect to the people of Panama and for the honor of the inaugural transit.
This ship was selected during a draw for the inaugural transit through the expanded waterway. Coincidentally, the ship was built in Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co, Ltd, the same company that constructed the valves that control the flow of water through the new locks of the Canal.
