Another Record!!

[BillB48]

Another record for payment to go to the head of the line has been reached for passage through the Panama Canal!  Only $4 million!!!!  Alright, you can say that is a little exaggeration... but it was $3.975 million.  Ah, what is $25K among friends... a rounding error??

 

The unidentified ship will transit Nov. 15.

 

https://gcaptain.com/lpg-tanker-pays-record-4-million-for-panama-canal-slot/?subscriber=true&goal=0_f50174ef03-ccba124568-169919501&mc_cid=ccba124568&mc_eid=58518afd65

[Turtles06]

😮😳😮

[BillB48]

Definitely a major CHA-CHING!  😀

[Essiesmom]

Until I read the article I was thinking it might be some billionaire’s mega yacht.  EM

[CruiserBruce]

16 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

Until I read the article I was thinking it might be some billionaire’s mega yacht.  EM

It says "lpg tanker" in the title link. Liquid Petroleum Gas.

[BillB48]

I saw or heard something in my travels that the vessel will actually transit in ballast.  Suppose they need the ship at some other port ASAP and not languishing off the coast of Panama.

[BillB48]

In case you ever wondered what a ship would look like after it has forked out $4.5 million for a transit... presenting the Sunny Bright.

 

[Essiesmom]

Did he have to pay cash?  EM

[BillB48]

Back in the old days the cash had to be deposited in the Canal Treasury's before the transit.  Feel sure nowadays some sort of electronic transfer to the Canal's account would be the method.  Rest assured the ship would not get anywhere near the first lock until the payment cleared!

 

Got me to think what a physical task it would be to haul $4 million or so up the the Treasurer's office.  Way back when the ships were "only" paying 5, 10 or even 15K... not such a huge task.  But now when regular tolls at the new locks can exceed $1 million!  I can remember when the QE 2 made her inaugural transit in 1975, she paid a record $42,000!   Today that amount won't even let you get a reservation, a ship that size the reservation alone is $50,000.