Hapag-Lloyd lays claim to owning the largest containership to transit the Panama Canal, nearly six months after the opening of the newer set of locks.
The 10,589-teu Valparaiso Express (built 2016) is part of Hapag-Lloyd's Europe – South America West Coast service, which covers a nine-week rotation, merging two previous services between Northern Europe and the West Coast of South America.
The ship measures 333 metres (1,092 feet) in length and 48 meters (157 feet) in width, and is the first of five new vessels in Hapag Lloyd's 10,500-teu class which are specifically being built to take advantage of the additional capacity the expanded canal affords.
When the final four ships are completed in April 2017, all five will be able to transit the Expanded Canal.
The vessel transited eastward through the Cocoli Locks today, following calls at ports in Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.
After completing its transit through the Atlantic-facing Agua Clara Locks, the ship plans stops at Manzanillo International Terminal in Panama and will continue its route to terminals in the Dominican Republic, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherland.
