Coal news and updates

The Panama Canal expansion has now been completed and so far it has made little difference to grain shipments, but it may lead to more US, Colombian and Canadian coal transiting through the canal, sources said.

 

The new neo-Panamax locks were officially opened at the end of last month and the expanded canal can now handle vessels up to 366 meters in length, 49 meter beam and a draft of 15.24 meters. This should allow "Baby-Cape" dry bulk vessels up to 130,000 dwt to pass through the canal, increasing the attractiveness of shipping a range of thermal and metallurgical coals crossing between the Atlantic and Pacific for destinations in Europe, the Far East, India and Brazil.

 

Previously the largest dry bulk cargo that could be taken through was 65,000 mt on Kamsarmax size vessels up to 80,000-85,000 dwt.

Source: Platts.com