Two oceans,
one isthmus
Around eighty percent of global trade by volume goes by sea. Scroll to follow one box across the narrow strip of land between two oceans.
West water
One box, one strip of land
This box is about to cross the land between two oceans, and the ship carrying it will go no further.
Lock
A chamber of water
A lock is a chamber of water that lifts or lowers a ship to match the level beyond its gates. Once the levels match, the gates open.
Land bridge rail
From deck to wagon
A quay crane lifts the box from the deck and sets it on a rail wagon for the land crossing.
East port
Across the land
The train carries the box along the land bridge, with an ocean on each side and no water to cross. At the far end a gantry crane sets it on a yard tractor.
Free zone
One open gate
Inside the fence, the law generally treats the box as outside the customs territory, so duty waits at the gate.
Re-export to sea
Handoffs built to hold
When every handoff along the route is built to hold, a box can change oceans in one continuous movement.
The whole route
Two oceans, one isthmus
It was never six separate stops, only one path.