Panama Canal sets new tonnage record

   The Panama Canal Authority said a record amount of shipping passed through the waterway during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.
   The canal uses an unsual measurement known as “Panama Canal tons” to measure volumes, but said ships with 333.7 million Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS) used the waterway, 3.6 percent more than 322.1 million PC/UMS last year. (Under PC/UMS, a mathematical formula is applied to the vessel’s total volume or cargo carrying capacity.)
   During fiscal year 2012, full container vessels accounted for 119.8 million Panama Canal tons, dry bulk carriers 83.4 million Panama Canal tons, and tankers 51.6 million Panama Canal tons. – Chris Dupin