Photo: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, 2018
The expanded Panama Canal came online in 2016, offering the opportunity to accommodate large ships and strengthen its economies of scale. The Agua Clara locks are one of the two lock sets, linking the Atlantic / Caribbean Ocean to Lake Gatun.
The containership on the above photo is the Valparaiso Express, owned by Hapag Llyod. The Neopanamax ship of 11,500 TEU was built in 2016 with the design specifications to fit exactly the expanded Panama Canal locks. In the background is the Atlantic Bridge crossing the Atlantic entrance of the canal and expected to open in 2019. It will the third bridge crossing the canal with the Bridge of the Americas and the Centennial Bridge.