Canal de Panama 1914 Since the 1800s, the desire to ship goods between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans was considered by many people and countries. Historically, ships made that ocean to ocean journey by sailing around Cape Horn in South America. That voyage involved 8,000 nautical miles. Shortening it would mean a substantial savings in time and cost. The Isthmus of Panama was thought of as a logical place to develop a passage. During the 16th century, the Spanish realized the advantages of a canal. In 1881, the French, under the direction of Ferdinand de Lesseps (builder of the Suez Canal), with government and private investors, attempted the construction after the Columbian government granted a concession to build by de Lesseps' group. The terrain and disease took its toll and in 1898 the function ceased. With less than one‐half of the excavation completed, the French sold the enterprise to the United States for $40 million in 1902. In 1902, the Spooner Act was passed by the U.S. Congress. It approved the purchase of the assets of the French company and the building of a canal. It also provided for a negotiated treaty with Colombia to take place. During the negotiations, however, Panama, a part of Columbia, declared its independence. This was recognized by the United States in November of 1903. What followed was the creation of the Panama Canal Zone in February of 1904. There were complications though because Nicaragua and Panama were proposed canal routes. President Theodore Roosevelt was the catalyst that committed the United States to build the canal through Panama. Construction began in 1906.
"Construction of the locks began with the pouring of concrete at Gatún in August 1909. Built in pairs, with each chamber measuring 110 feet wide by 1,000 feet long, the locks were embedded with culverts that leveraged gravity to raise and lower water levels. Ultimately, the three locks along the canal route lifted ships 85 feet above sea level, to man‐made Gatún Lake in the middle. Hollow, buoyant lock gates were also built, varying in height from 47 to 82 feet. The entire enterprise was powered by electricity and run through a control board."
Mulas (mules) guide ships through the canal. They are run by electricity and control the side‐to‐side and braking within the locks. Large ships may use eight mules while in transit. Smaller vessels use manual handlines. Additional gates are used to prevent flooding as a safeguard. Hydroelectric dams provide the electricity. Several models have been used since 1914. Each mule has 290 horsepower and weigh 50 tons, made by Mitsubishi. By 2006, the Panama Canal was becoming obsolete.
The reason had to do with container ships and their expansion in global commerce.
Size of a ship matters when traveling through the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal Authority published limits and requirements. This includes width, length, draft, and capacity. The 1914 Canal limits were set to ships identified as Panamax.
They are: Tonnage: 52,500 DWT (Deadweight tonnage). This measures how much weight a ship can carry. Length: 950 feet; Beam: 106 feet; Height: 190 feet; Draft: 30.5 feet; and Capacity: 5,000 TEU (a 20‐foot container).
Panamax ships require precise control of the vessels in a lock; hence Panamanian Pilots are used. Also, the Culebra or Gaillard Cut requires one‐ way transit.
The USA uses the canal the most followed by China, Japan, Chile and North Korea. The Canal transports 4% of world trade and 16% of US‐borne trade. 60 million tons of dynamite were used to excavate the canal. With the use of florescent lighting in 1963, the canal began to operate 24 hours a day. Total concrete 5 million cubic yards.
Roger A. Stigers is a retired Senior Health Physicist from the PPL Susquehanna nuclear power plant. He was born and raised in Iowa. He is a former educator and coach in Cedar Rapids. His math and science background led him to a Radiation Protection Supervisory position for Iowa Electric. Roger moved to Pennsylvania in 1987.
His passion and hobby is traveling in the United States and abroad. He enjoys meeting people with different backgrounds and cultures. He has traveled to forty-eight (48) states and many countries. He has traveled extensively in Asia, North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Sources: Touring the Canal: An oral history, Presentation onboard of Panama Canal, https://history.state.gov/milestones/1899‐1913/panama‐canal, https://www.history.com/topics/landmarks/panama‐canal, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Panama‐Canal, http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/171467.htm, http://www.canalmuseum.com/100years/100yearspanamacanal‐22.htm, http://www.panamarailroad.org/pg3.html, http://www.pancanal.com/eng/projects/locomotive.html, https://www.flexport.com/blog/history‐of‐panama‐ canal, https://www.maritime‐executive.com/article/evergreen‐container‐ship‐makes‐record‐transit‐through‐panama‐canal, https://www.history.com/news/7‐fascinating‐facts‐about‐the‐panama‐canal and https://www.worldwildlife.org/blogs/good‐nature‐travel/posts/ten‐facts‐ about‐the‐panama‐canal. acuri.net John R. Vincenti and Roger A. Stigers Panama Canal 1914