Panama Canal expands as trade falls flat

A new, wider channel will allow bigger ships to pass through. But how many will come?
AAL's Kobe ship squeezes through the current Panama Canal locks.
David Brancaccio/Marketplace

Panama Canal prepares for bigger vessels

Dec 30, 2015
The changes will allow for ships that can carry up to three times the cargo.

Nicaragua's much-touted canal meets with opposition

Dec 24, 2014
Nicaragua's been talking about building a canal for 200 years. Considerable skepticism has greeted the project.
 A banner that reads "no to the canal" is carried this week during a protest against a new canal opening in Nicaragua. 
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Port wars heat up as East Coast raises the bar

Sep 16, 2013
East Coast ports are upgrading their infrastructure to accommodate increased freight expected after the 2015 expansion of the Panama Canal. West Coast ports have to ship up in order to compete.

The next Panama Canal could be on its way

Aug 1, 2012
The government of Nicaragua is paying two Dutch companies about $750,000 to study the feasability of building a canal -- a canal that would rival the Panama Canal and create another link from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea.

Panama Canal expansion brings competition for East Coast ports

Mar 14, 2012
The Panama Canal is getting a makeover, and it could be a gamechanger for Atlantic coast ports -- that is, if those ports are ready in time.