PANAMA CITY, Panama, October 14, 2010 – Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Operations Executive Vice President Manuel Benítez awarded the vessel Fortune Plum with a plaque yesterday, commemorating the ship as the one-millionth transit through the Panama Canal since its inauguration in 1914.
The ceremony, held at the Miraflores Locks, included all Canal staff that worked September 4, the day of the historic transit, and also recognized the ship’s operator STX Pan Ocean.
“We are extremely honored to commemorate the one-millionth transit through the Panama Canal,” said Mr. Benítez. “For more than 96 years, this vital waterway has served world trade, and we will continue this tradition of safe, reliable and efficient service. Today, we also honor the hard work of every ACP employee, whose dedication has helped make this one million mark a reality. We are proud to be a part of this moment and look forward to many more milestones to come.”
As the Panama Canal celebrates one million transits, the ACP continues to forge ahead with the historic expansion of the waterway, which continues to progress as planned. Expansion will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of locks, which will double capacity and allow more traffic and longer, wider ships.
About the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)
The ACP is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the ACP is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors. For more information, please refer to the ACP’s Web site: http://www.pancanal.com/. You can also follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thepanamacanal.
