The 161,870-cbm Maran Gas Apollonia, chartered by the Hague-based LNG giant Shell, is the first LNG tanker to transit the newly expanded Panama Canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
As previously reported by LNG World News, the Greek-flagged LNG tanker was scheduled to transit through the canal on July 25, loaded with a cargo from Cheniere’s Sabine pass liquefaction plant, the first of its kind to export U.S. shale gas to overseas markets.
The LNG carrier is currently transiting the expanded canal, according to the Panama Canal, and as shown in the image above.
BP’s 135,500-cbm British Merchant, that was previously expected to be the first LNG vessel to pass trough the expanded canal, is scheduled to transit the new locks on July 26, carrying a cargo from Trinidad and Tobago to Mexico.
A third LNG tanker is expected to transit the canal in early August.
The expanded canal will be able to accommodate about 90% of the world’s current LNG tankers. Only the Q-Flex and Q-Max tankers used for exports from Qatar, will not be able to use the canal.
LNG World News Staff