Maximum vessel size for the post-2016 Panama Canal expansion: 366 m LOA × 49 m beam × 15.2 m draft tropical fresh.
Regulatory detail & full definition
A new generation of container ships (~14,000 TEU) and LNG carriers (~180,000 m³) was designed exactly to these limits. Older Panamax vessels remain valid but compete in the same locks. Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCV, 18,000+ TEU) cannot transit and use Suez or Cape routes.