5 cents Vol. 8, No. 1 BALBOA HEIGHTS, CANAL ZONE, AUGUST 2, 1957 Gift Ofthe Panama CanalMuseum pany over a four-year construction per- il id, requiring neither special appropria- tions nor borrowing. WTiile the short-range plan embodies no new features that have not been given consideration in prior studies of the Canal capacity problem, it attacks the problem at the most immediately critical points. Of importance in the long-range planning, virtually all of the proposed improve- ments would be beneficial in almost any permanent improvements or changes con- sidered probable for the Panama Canal. The study of the Canal capacity prob- lem is being conducted by an Ad Hoc Committee appointed last January by Assistant Secretary of the .Army George H. Roderick. Members aie Governor Potter, Chan-man, Maj. Gen. Julian L. Schley, and Ralph A. Tudor. The Ad Hoc Committee's first report was based on statistical and other data developed by a Working Committee, composed of a group of Canal officials intimately acquainted with operating problems. This v>-as headed by former Lt. Gov. H. W. Schull, Jr., until his departure last month. He has been succeeded as Chairman by Lt. Gov. Hugh ^L Arnold. Efforts of the Working Committee were warmly praised by Board members, especially plans for illumination of the Locks and Gaillard Cut which were de- veloped largely through Colonel Schull's initiative. In effect the short-range plan will provide for 24-hour operation of the waterway under safe conditions; par- Mooring facilities For two big ships north of Pedro Miguel Locks would reduce tial elimination of a serious bottleneck congestion and increase Canal capacity during Pacific Locks overhaul periods. in traffic at Pedro Miguel Locks; and a major decrease in the delay time now caused by clear-cut ships. The initial report to the Board of Di- rectors also proposed a plan for the re- distribution of the daily traffic pattern when the improvements are completed. .Although the proposed rearrangement of IMPROVEMENTS transit schedules will not increase traffic capacity under the new conditions, it will mean an average saving of some three For A Few Years Ahead houi's in "waiting-and-transit" time for ships using the Canal and effect monetary savings for shipping which will aggregate some $2,000,000 a year. of improvements the requirements of world shipping will A short-range plan The widening of Paraiso and Cucaracha the transit capacity of the be for the remainder of this century and for increasing reaches will bring the channel to a mini- expected requirements of what alterations to the existing waterway Canal to meet mum of 500 feet in more than half of the next one or two are needed to meet those requirements. world shipping for Gaillard Cut. Culebra Reach, which ad- approved by the Board A report on the study is to be sub- decades has been joins Cucaracha north of Gold Hill, has of the Panama Canal Com- mitted to the Board of Directors by the of Directors already been widened to 500 feet. for submission to the Bureau of the end of next year. pany In connection with this project, it was appropriate Congi-essional The short-range plan proposes five Budget and recommended that the widened part of review. major improvements, which are: Committees for the channel be deepened five feet since will be taken to implement 1. The purchase of five additional No action the work can be performed economically report and recommendations of the towing locomotives. This item has al- the in connection with the other excavation. Hoc Committee on the Canal capac- ready been budgeted. Ad Also, all future improvement plans con- distribution of the 2. Lighting Gaillard Cut and im- ity problem and no sidered include a deepening of the Canal until these reviews proved lighting of the Locks for safe report will be made channel. night-time operation. have been completed. The widening and deepening project proposed improvements would in- 3. Provision of mooring facilities for The would cost an estimated $11,609,000 and dependable capacity of the two large vessels just north of Pedro crease the would require the removal of approxi- percent. Dependable Miguel Locks. Canal by about 25 mately 6,200,000 cubic yards of material. capacity is rated on the number of lock- Paraiso and Cucaracha 4. Widening This yardage is exclusive of material ex- ages possible in a 24-hour period at Gatun to 500 feet and reaches in Gaillard Cut cavated in widening of Bend isiis, located during overhaul periods. The pres- part five feet. Locks deepening the widened by in the Paraiso Reach, on which work is ent lockage capacity at Gatun is 35 in 5. Widening Bend IhbO, a curve in the now being started. All of the material normal operating periods with current channel at the olil construction town in both reaches will be removed from the clear-cut rate, -30 during Pacific Locks of Empire which is considered one of the west bank of the channel. and 2S during part of the Atlan- overhaul, most hazardous sections of the Canal. The section of the channel to be tic Locks overhaul. These would be The cost of these improvements, not widened has been the scene of many increased to about 45, 36, and 35, re- including the purchase of the additional accidents and is considered particularly spectively. locomotives, would be $18,9.56,000. The hazardous because of its narrow, rocky The plan adopted by the Board at its program could be financed by the Com- banks and by the surges of water there meeting last month is the initial phase of an exhaustive study undertaken by August 1957 the Canal management to determine what THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW 2, from lockages at Pedro Miguel. When projects is $1,550,000. \Vhile it is planned The proposal to widen Bend 1660, the project is completed, it will permit to install lights along a 3,400-foot section under the short-range plan, is considered large ships, and others requiring clear-cut of the Cut between Culebra and Empire essential as a safety factor in view of the transit, to meet and pass for more than reaches on an experimental basis this present type of Canal traffic. The change half the distance of the Cut section, mate- fiscal year, the work approved by the in dir-ection of the channel at this point rially decreasing loss of time in handling Board would not start until the begin- is more than 37 degrees and the bend has these vessels. ning of next fiscal year and would require a record of more bank-strikings and col- The report to the Board said that full about 20 months for completion. The lisions than any other in the Canal. advantages of the two lighting projects experimental lighting system to be in- Deeply-laden vessels and "Super" ships could be realized only by the completion stalled will give engineers and Canal are difficult to maneuver at the bend of both. Of the expected results of these, operating personnel an opportunity to because of bank suction. With the chan- the report said in part: study the eff'ectiveness of the mild illu- nel widened at that point more space "These projects would, in addition to mination system and to make changes will be available in which to maneuver improving safety of Canal operations, in the permanent installations if found ships entering or leaving the bend. greatly increase the capacity of the Ca- desirable. This project, including deepening the the of daylight nal by reducing number The provision of a mooring station on channel, would cost an estimated $4,- ships and by permitting two- clear-cut the east bank of the Canal just north of 438,000, and would require the removal way traffic in Gaillard Cut during dark- Pedro Miguel Locks would cost $1,359,- of 2,377,000 cubic yards of earth and ness. While it is impossible mathemati- 000, and it is estimated the project could rock. cally to predict the reduction in daylight be completed in a year's time. Since this Most of the work to be done under the clear-cut ships, an analysis of expected will greatly facilitate the handling of ships five-point, short-range plan would be ac- increases in sizes and types of ships and at Pedro Miguel and in the Cut, this complished by contract. The wet exca- expected traffic seems to indicate that, work would be scheduled to start and be vation be with this improved lighting, daylight would done by Canal forces, clear-cuts will probably not exceed four completed during the coming fiscal year. but the dry excavation, the lighting proj- a day in the foreseeable future." The area will become a part of the 500- ects, and construction of the mooring The estimated cost of the two lighting foot widening project. station would be ofi'ered for contract. Ships will hove a 500-Foot channel For about halF the distance oF Gaillard Cot aFte( widening projects are completed on two just And A Forecast reaches north oF Pedro Miguel. For Many Years Ahead A long-range forecast of the cargo ton- nage and ship transits which the Panama Canal may expect from now until the year 2000 "will be in the hands of Canal authorities by the end of the calendar year. The report is being prepared by the Stanford Research Institute, of Menlo Park, Calif., which has been retained by the Panama Canal Company for this purpose. The study is part of the pro- gram toward solving the Canal capacity problem which has occupied the time of a special, or Ad Hoc, committee, and a Working Committee for several months.