Panama Canal is bigger

Discussion in 'Environmental Discussion' started by tochatihu, Jun 25, 2016.

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  1. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Ya, put regen energy into batteries and lose by Coulomb efficiency both ways. Better to dispatch to other use including uphill trains
     
    #41 tochatihu, Jan 24, 2025
  2. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    In theory, a utility grade battery farm with solar and wind power would supplement the regeneration savings. I've not done the sums but it might have an energy cost/mile similar to what ships achieve today.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #42 bwilson4web, Jan 25, 2025
  3. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    I will update.

    Panama Canal is now at low (but not historically lowest) number of crossings per day, which by my reading were in 2023/2024. Realize that was after water-management improvements made it more resistant to droughts (water supply).

    Global tensions elsewhere may have diverted some shipping there vs. Suez. I do not see how Hormuz crimped shipping could figure in.

    Panama gets much rain on Sept. through Nov. in average years. Realize that strong El Nino is currently developing, and these do diminish rainfall over the entire country. I expect Canal crossings to continue decreasing until 2027 June, and later, if average rain does not fall during 2027 'wet season'.

    Expect future clickbait on this topic, not least because about 70% of Canal crossings are by US-serving ships. Nor least because of 2026 US elections.

    ==
    Further expansion of Panama Canal water supply would include adding Rio Indios watershed; currently stalled because of harm to people living there. For 'the greater good' that will proceed perforce in 2027. You read it first here (y)(n):unsure:
     
    #43 tochatihu, Aug 22, 2026 at 11:11 PM
  4. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    @ Greater good: Kelo. (a.k.a. little pink house.)
    A government that is big enough to give you everything you need is also big enough to TAKE everything you have.

    @ "traffic"
    Crossings or cargo?
    According to our AI overlords......
    "Overall Panama maritime traffic is up in volume and TEUs compared to previous drought-lows, but crossings (vessel transits) are being actively capped and cut downward heading into September 2026 due to renewed El Niño water constraints."

    For non-petrol cargo - it's all about the TEUs.
    Neo-Panamax ships haul roughly 180% more Twenty-foot equivalent units in a hull that is not 180% bigger......

    AND YET!
    WHILE most newly delivered container ships are inside the Neo-Panamax limit the number that exceeds this limit is increasing as owners weigh the advantage of being able to stop worrying about driving through rough neighborhoods and paying tolls. An informal ceiling exists around 400 meters in length and 24,000+ TEU capacity because larger ships face severe economic and practical diminishing returns.....

    upload_2026-8-23_10-17-41.png
     
    #44 ETC(SS), Aug 23, 2026 at 11:21 AM
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