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The Panama Canal is the most important maritime company in the Panamanian isthmus, this magnificent work of engineering was completed in 1912 and its formal inauguration was made in 1914. With an extension of approximately 80 kilometers, this road connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in one of the narrowest points of the American continent. The purpose of this research is to describe how its operation has evolved over time. A search for documentary information is carried out, in digital media such as Google Scholar, without time restrictions. The findings support that the Canal throughout its history has played different roles, including military strategic point, dynamize of international trade and maritime shortcut to save distance, time / costs in world maritime transport. It is currently an important link in the logistics system of distribution and container transshipment. The connectivity offered by the route through the Canal gives the shipping company the opportunity to achieve a better use of its fleet and provide a greater range of services to its customers through its connectivity between ports.