Which canal expansion opened in 2016 to allow larger ships between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans?

The Panama Canal expansion opened in 2016 to allow larger ships between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

The project added a third lane of traffic and built larger locks at both ends of the canal. These Neopanamax locks can handle ships substantially larger than those using the original lock system.

The expansion began commercial operations on June 26, 2016, when the container ship COSCO Shipping Panama made the ceremonial first transit. It was designed to increase the canal’s capacity and accommodate changing patterns in global maritime trade.

The expansion is sometimes confused with the canal’s original opening in 1914. The original waterway remained in operation; the 2016 project added new infrastructure rather than replacing it.