The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker Lycaste Peace, owned by Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line), transited the newly inaugurated expanded Panama Canal on June 28, marking the first commercial passage of an LPG vessel through the new locks.

Originating from Houston, Texas, Lycaste Peace is en route to the Port of Hitachi, Japan. The LPG tanker measures 230 meters in length and 37 meters in beam, and was the first of the over 170 reservations already received for transit through the expanded Panama Canal.

The transit also represents the first vessel to pass through the expanded canal following COSCO Shipping Panama’s inaugural commercial transit of the new locks during Sunday’s ceremony where tens of thousands of Panamanians, canal workers, foreign dignitaries, maritime executives, and other guests gathered to celebrate the historic moment.

In addition, the LPG tanker Passat, owned by Avance Gas, also transited the expanded canal on June 28 as the second LPG vessel through the new locks. The vessel measures 226 meters in length and 37 meters in beam.