In March 1996, a China Ocean Shipping cargo ship docked in Oakland, Calif.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

But in less than 20 years more than half of the world's ocean-going cargo vessels may be too large to pass through the canal's locks.

ECONOMIST: Panama

Venezuelan authorities this morning released the U.S.-flagged cargo ship Ocean Atlas from two weeks of detention on suspicion of arms trafficking.

FORBES: Venezuela Frees U.S. Ship And Crew After Smuggling Investigation

Now, the whales migrate through a channel of ocean that's heavily trafficked by cargo and fishing ships, earning the species a new nickname: the urban whale.

CNN: Endangered right whales appear to be on the rebound

Wind blade equipment today, probably constitutes roughly 20% of ocean-borne multi-purpose heavy lift cargo today.

FORBES: Intermarine Executives Discuss Ship Financing, Piracy, and Global Maritime Trade

Recently a South African education sailing ship, Lady Amber, has been enlisted to deploy the Argo floats in parts of the Southern Indian Ocean which are otherwise seldom visited by research or cargo vessels.

UNESCO: Social and Human Sciences

Since August 29 the ship Ocean Atlas has been at port in Maracaibo, Venezuela, where it docked to unload a cargo of equipment.

FORBES: Venezuela Holds U.S. Vessel And Crew On Suspicion Of Arms Trafficking

To attract donations, BBF depends mainly on its reputation, word of mouth and occasional local publicity when one of its 200 annual cargo containers leaves the warehouse for a hot world disaster spot, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami or, a rare domestic effort, 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

FORBES: Your Charity Dollars at Work