Time-lapse footage shows a U.S. Coast Guard narcotics patrol vessel navigating the Panama Canal.

The CGC Thetis traversed the iconic channel during an eight-hour transit to the Eastern Pacific on a counter-narcotics patrol on May 5.

The U.S. Coast Guard said: 'The passage was a unique opportunity for many crew members as we navigated through the locks alongside various other vessels from around the world.

'The Panama Canal, completed in 1914, is an engineering feat that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Spanning approximately 50 miles, it uses a system of locks to raise and lower ships over the Continental Divide, allowing them to pass between sea levels in a series of steps.

'This critical shortcut drastically reduces the voyage for maritime traffic by avoiding the lengthy and hazardous route around the southern tip of South America via the Strait of Magellan.'

The Panama Canal is a vital artificial waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, traversing the Isthmus of Panama. It facilitates global maritime trade by significantly reducing travel time and distance for ships traveling between the east and west coasts of the Americas.