Maritime glossary
Panamax
A vessel sized to the original Panama Canal locks, with a beam limit of 32.31 metres.
Definition
Panamax describes a ship built to the maximum dimensions of the original Panama Canal locks: about 32.31 m beam, 294 m length, and 12 m draught. In dry bulk a Panamax bulker is roughly 65,000 to 80,000 DWT; in tankers the equivalent size carries the same name. Since the 2016 canal expansion the older size is sometimes called classic Panamax to distinguish it from the larger Neo-Panamax envelope.
How Vessel Hunter uses Panamax
Vessel Hunter holds the beam, length, and draught on every hull, so you can confirm canal and lock fit without leaving the dossier.
Related terms
- Neo-PanamaxNew Panamax
A vessel sized to the expanded Panama Canal locks opened in 2016, with a beam up to 49 metres.
- Capesize
A large dry bulk carrier above roughly 150,000 DWT, too big for the Suez and Panama canals.
- Beam
The widest point of a vessel, the constraining dimension for lock chambers, dry docks, and some terminals.
- Bulk Carrier
A single-deck ship built to carry unpackaged dry bulk cargo like grain, coal, ore, and cement in large holds.
The bigger picture
Panamax is one piece of the commercial maritime picture Vessel Hunter pulls together for shipyards, suppliers, service providers, and port agents. Every vessel record bundles AIS, ownership, inspections, dry-dock history, casualty record, classification status, and a verified contact for the operator decision-maker behind the ship, so the team that reaches out first wins the work.
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