Panama: Panama Canal marks 10th anniversary of expanded locks.

SHOTLIST: PANAMA CITY, PANAMA (JUNE 26, 2026) 1. VARIOUS SHOTS OF SHIPS TRANSITING PANAMA CANAL 2. VARIOUS OF GUESTS AT EVENT MARKING 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PANAMA CANAL EXPANSION PROJECT 3. VARIOUS SHOTS OF SHIPS TRANSITING PANAMA CANAL 4. VARIOUS OF GUESTS AT EVENT MARKING 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PANAMA CANAL EXPANSION PROJECTPANAMA CITY, PANAMA - JUNE 26, 2026: An event was held in Panama City on Friday, June 26, to mark the 10th anniversary of the inauguration of the expanded Panama Canal. The expansion, inaugurated in 2016 with the opening of the Agua Clara and Cocoli locks, significantly increased the canal's capacity for Neo-Panamax vessels and strengthened its role in global maritime trade. Ten years have passed since that June 26, 2016, when the container ship Cosco Shipping Panama officially inaugurated the new Agua Clara and Cocolí locks, ushering in a new era for global logistics. The Canal expansion was the largest infrastructure project since the opening of the original Canal in 1914, generating tangible benefits for both Panama and the world. As a result, the Canal’s capacity was expanded, increasing revenue for the country and consolidating the Canal’s role as an essential platform for global trade. It has also boosted the country’s competitiveness and opened up new opportunities for economic growth, investment, and employment. During the first eight months of FY 2026 (October 2025 through May 2026), 8,593 transits were recorded, of which 27.7% were by Neo-Panamax vessels—that is, 2,385 transits. Furthermore, as of May 2026, the number of transits through the expanded locks had exceeded 31,000 since their inauguration. The impact of the expanded Canal accounts for more than 50% of the interoceanic waterway’s total revenue. This first decade of operations has also tested the Canal’s resilience in the face of climate challenges such as those experienced in 2023 and 2024, making responsible water management a national priority. That is why projects such as the Río Indio Reservoir are part of a long-term water strategy aimed at ensuring both the Canal’s operation and the water supply for the population. Ten years later, the Canal’s expansion continues to bear fruit. It is the country’s largest infrastructure project since 1914 and a symbol of the talent, commitment, and professionalism of the 9,000 Panamanians who make it possible every day. As part of the commemoration, the Canal administrator, Dr. Ricaurte Vasquez Morales, presented commemorative plaques to five Neopanamax vessels transiting the interoceanic waterway, in appreciation of their valuable contribution during the first decade of operations of the expanded Canal. This initiative highlights the close collaboration with the international maritime industry and the fundamental role of these partners in consolidating the Canal as a key hub for global trade.