Panamax (bulker)

Bulk carrier sized to fit the original Panama Canal locks: max 32.31 m beam, 294 m LOA, ~12.04 m draft fresh; ~65,000-80,000 DWT.

In practice

Sized to the original Panama Canal lock dimensions (32.31 m beam). Largely superseded by Neo-Panamax for new builds since the 2016 expansion.

Regulatory detail & full definition

Largest size pre-2016 expansion. Still dominates the cape-Panamax-Supramax-Handy market segmentation. Smaller post-Panamax replacements (Kamsarmax, Newcastlemax) emerged for the wider new locks. Spot rates quoted on the Baltic Panamax Index (BPI) routes.

Authoritative source: Panama Canal Authority ↗

Bulk Carrier

Source: Panama Canal Authority; Baltic Exchange BPI definition

High confidence

Editorial confidence: how we grade.

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Panamax (bulker)

In practice

Related

Panamax (bulker)

In practice

Related