 In addition to the canal locks , there is a ship lift , a kind of elevator for vessels . The ship lift can lift ships of up to 3 @,@ 000 tons . The vertical distance traveled is 113 metres , and the size of the ship lift 's basin is 120 × 18 × 3 @.@ 5 metres . The ship lift takes 30 to 40 minutes to transit , as opposed to the three to four hours for stepping through the locks . One complicating factor is that the water level can vary dramatically . The ship lift must work even if water levels vary by 12 meters ( 39 ft ) on the lower side , and 30 metres on the upper side . 
