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First voyage through expanded Panama canal | First voyage through expanded Panama canal |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A giant Chinese container ship has become the first vessel to move from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean via the newly-enlarged Panama Canal. | |
The ship was greeted with fireworks and cheers from a crowd that had gathered at the Cocoli locks to celebrate. | |
The Panamanian President, Juan Carlos Varela, described the waterway as a route that would unite the world. | |
The president thanked the nearly 30,000 people who had worked on the canal's expansion. | |
Construction on the new lane for the canal, which runs for 77km (48 miles), began in 2007 and was due to finish in 2014. | Construction on the new lane for the canal, which runs for 77km (48 miles), began in 2007 and was due to finish in 2014. |
But strikes and disputes over costs delayed the $5.2bn (£3.8bn) project. | But strikes and disputes over costs delayed the $5.2bn (£3.8bn) project. |
Panama Canal expansion prompts safety concerns | Panama Canal expansion prompts safety concerns |
The original Panama Canal was first used in August 1914. It was built by the US and handed over to local control in 1999. | The original Panama Canal was first used in August 1914. It was built by the US and handed over to local control in 1999. |
The expansion allows a new, much-larger generation of container ships to pass through the isthmus. | The expansion allows a new, much-larger generation of container ships to pass through the isthmus. |
Some 35 to 40 vessels transit the waterway everyday. | Some 35 to 40 vessels transit the waterway everyday. |
Panama hopes the expansion will increase the revenues it gets from the canal, reported to have been $2.6bn (£1.9bn) in 2015. | Panama hopes the expansion will increase the revenues it gets from the canal, reported to have been $2.6bn (£1.9bn) in 2015. |
But the canal could face competition from a new passage in Nicaragua. | But the canal could face competition from a new passage in Nicaragua. |
The controversial 278km (172 mile) scheme, being built by a Chinese firm, will be longer, deeper and wider than the Panama Canal. | The controversial 278km (172 mile) scheme, being built by a Chinese firm, will be longer, deeper and wider than the Panama Canal. |
Its construction started in 2014 and it is estimated to cost $50bn (£32bn). | Its construction started in 2014 and it is estimated to cost $50bn (£32bn). |