Panamax

Panamax refers to the maximum size of ships that can pass through the original Panama Canal locks. This size limitation includes specific dimensions: ships can be up to 965 feet long, 106 feet wide, and have a draft of 39.5 feet. The term also represents the design and capacity of vessels that efficiently transport goods between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans using the canal. Due to the canal's expansion, new classes of larger ships, known as New Panamax or Neo-Panamax, have emerged, but Panamax remains significant for many shipping routes and logistics.