Panama: SK Gas-operated tanker crosses Panama Canal after record priority payment.

SHOTLIST: PANAMA CITY, PANAMA (SEPT. 1, 2026) 1. VARIOUS OF G. SPIRIT CROSSING PANAMA CANAL 2. VARIOUS OF TUGBOATS ESCORTING LPG TANKER THROUGH PANAMA CANAL 3. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WATCHING G. SPIRITPANAMA CITY, PANAMA - SEPT. 1: The LPG tanker G. Spirit, operated by South Korea’s SK Gas and registered under the Panamanian flag, crossed the Panama Canal on Tuesday, Sept. 1 after the company paid a record 5.3 million dollars for priority passage. The payment was made for an auctioned transit slot as severe drought linked to the El Nino phenomenon continued to put pressure on canal operations. The case highlighted growing demand for faster passage through the waterway amid strains on global energy shipping routes.