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You may have heard of the Panama Canal, an artificial waterway that runs through Central America and connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, isOne of the most important shipping arteries in the world, with nearly 20,000 ships passing through each year.
But did you know that the price of passing through this "bridge of the world" is not cheap. The lowest toll is $800 and the highest is a tollThe fee amounted to $1 million. Such a high toll came as a surprise to many, because the technology used in the Panama Canal was not advanced, but the lock technology that had been around 500 years ago.
Why the Panama Canal can be charged asThis expensive toll?What is its history and current situation?Let's explore it together.
The technical feature of the Panama Canal is the use of locks, a device that uses the difference in water level to lift or lower ships, and first appeared in China in the 10th century AD. The principle of the lock is to allow the flow of water to enter or exit the lock by opening and closing the gateRaise or lower the water level inside the locks, allowing boats to pass through waters at different heights.
There are three groups of locks in the Panama Canal, located at opposite ends of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceansand the highest point of the canal. Each lock has two parallel lanes that allow two ships to pass at the same time. The size of the lockThe size of the ships that could pass through the canal was limited, and such ships were called Panamax boats.
The maximum dimensions of a Panamax ship are 294 meters long and 32 meters wide3 meters, draft 12 meters, load 640,000 tons. The operation of the locks is controlled by a computerThe vessel was towed in action by an orbital tractor in the lock.
The design of the locks is very ingenious, using the principles of gravity and water pressure to make each lock gateBoth weigh 745 tons, but the balance is quite good, and only a 30 kW motor can drive the opening and closing. The amount of water in the locks is also carried out through the ** systemSaving, each pass through the locks consumes only 7% of the canal's water.
So, why does the Panama Canal charge such expensive tolls?The main reason is that although the Panama Canal is expensive, the shipowner is still more cost-effective than other options. On the one hand, doing business requires on-time deliveryShortcuts take less time and save costs and improve profit margins.
According to one study, ships can save about 15% on fuel costs and about 30% on CO2 emissions through the Panama Canal. On the other hand, the charges for the Panama Canal are also set according to market supply and demand, the canal has a limited capacity and there is a high demand for ships, so the Canal Authority canBalance supply and demand by adjusting fees to maximize benefits.
According to the Canal Authority, in 2020, the canal's revenue reached 28$500 million, a record high. The revenue of the canal is used to maintain the operation and safety of the canal, expand the canal's traffic capacity, and improve the infrastructure and environment around the canaland support for social welfare and development projects in Panama.
Although the Panama Canal has been around for a hundred years, it has not stopped progressing and innovating. In order to adapt to the development of ships and changes in the market,The Panama Canal is constantly being expanded and renovated to improve its capacity and efficiency.
The most recent expansion was completed in 2016 with the addition of a new boat lane and the expansion of the size of the locks, allowing the canal to pass through larger vessels, known as neo-Panamax boats. The expansion of the canal is not only for the Panama BeltMore income and employment have come, and it has also brought more convenience and benefits to the world's ** and transportation.
There are many more possibilities for the future of the Panama Canal. The Canal Authority is planning a second expansion to further improve the canal's accessibilityAbility and quality of service. In addition, the Canal Authority is exploring the use of new technologies and ideas to address the challenges and opportunities of the canal.
For example, the Canal Authority is looking into the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power to provide cleaner electricity for the canalThe Canal Authority is looking into the use of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to provide more intelligent management and monitoring of the canal;The Canal Authority is studying innovative options such as underwater tunnels and aerial cablewaysProvide more diverse ways to pass through the canal.
The Panama Canal is a never-ending waterway that is constantly evolving and innovating, adapting to changes in the market and environmentIt meets challenges and opportunities, and it creates value and benefits.
The Panama Canal is a waterway that we can learn from Xi and learn from, it teaches us how to overcome difficulties and risks, it teaches us how to use resources and technology, and it teaches us how to achieve change and development. Let's pay tribute to the Panama Canal, let's learn from Xi the Panama Canal, let's learn from the Panama Canal, and let's win with the Panama Canal.