The Panama Canal Review Panama's Free Zone

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FEBRUARY 196§_ Robert D. Kerb, Press Robert J. Fleming, Jr., Governor-President Officer Publications Editors H. R. Pakfitt, Lieutenant Governor Morgan E. Goodwin and Tomas A. Cupas Editorial Assistants Fbank a. Baldwin Eunice Richard, Tobi Bittel, Fannie P. Official Panama Canal Publication Panama Canal Information Officer Published quarterly at Balboa Heights, C.Z. Hernandez, and Jose T. Tunon Printed at the Printing Plant, La Boea, C.Z. Review articles may be reprinted in full or part without further clearance. Credit to the Review will be appreciated. Distributed free of charge to all Panama Canal Employees. Subicriptions, SI a year; mail and back copies, 25 cents each.

cAbout Our Cover 3ndiex

THE AERIAL PHOTO shows Panama's Free Zone, a Port of Mobile. region that seizes the interest of most people and is of special significance to the leading businessmen of Panama's Free Zone the world.

People of the River 6 Situated in the Caribbean coastal city of Colon, second most populous municipality in the Republic of Panama, the Free Zone serves as a funnel for a bewildering array The Crowns of Panama of goods. From manufacturer to vender, and ultimately to the consumer, the merchandise flows via the Free Zone, SS United States Calls 12 frequently being packed, labeled or stored here, also.

Shipping Statistics 12 The success of the Free Zone has been spectacular and

is best illustrated by statistics noting that firms operating here in 1965 handled 20 times the 1953 volume of goods. Unusual PanCanal Skills 14 Attractive, stable tax advantages and freedom from red tape of license and permit requirements are heavy induce- Canal History 16 ments to corporations contemplating setting up shop in

Colon. Add its proximity to the Panama Canal and you New Training Program 17 have a sure winner.

But the impact of the Free Zone reaches further than Anniversaries. 20 the credit and loss statements of the more than 400 com-

panies operating here. It greatly influences the economv Carnival _ 22

of the entire nation by contributing toward its progress. Turn to page 4 for a fuller view of the Free Zone. Shipping 24

The people of the river— rural folk living near Gatun

and Madden Lakes— are introduced in an article beginning

on page 6. These proud, industrious people accept nothing

they feel they have not earned and cling to other time- honored ways that have gone out of fashion in some parts of the world.

In a big operation like the Panama Canal, many very particular skills are needed, some of them unheard of in the average industrial area. Our cover .shows an admeasurer, whose job at the Canal has no actual par- allel anywhere. There are others, as our story on page 14 reveals.

February 1966 Port Of Mobile Is Old But New

THE STATE of Alabama and its seaport cit\ of Mobile boast long and colorful histories but the port of Mobile came of age just 30 years ago with the help of one of the builders of the Panama Canal. Mobile, at various times, was claimed bv the Spanish,

French, and English before it became part of the United States. And during the 1800's when cotton was king, the city served as a vital link that helped move the raw bales from plantations to looms abroad. But cotton fell sharply from prominence through the ravages

of the boll weevil and with it went the prosperity of Mobile's

onc-commodit\ port; it languished for man\' years. The port of Mobile was wholly lacking in adequate facilities in 1919 when the U.S. rivers and harbors appropriations bill gave the Secretary of War authority to withold funds for new dredging projects in regions lacking sufficient terminals to handle the traffic. Taking the initiative, the State of Alabama launched a program to build a new port at a .540-acre site 1 mile north of downtown Mobile. The job of handling planning and engineering went to a native Alabamian, retired Gen. William L. Sibert, who, as a young major, was responsible for the completion of Gatun Locks and Gatun Dam. integral parts of the Panama Canal setup. His efforts resulted in the port of Mobile's elevation from

near the bottom of the heap to its present position as one of the top ports in the Nation. Today the Alabama State Docks,

which for the exporter-importer is the port of Mobile, carr\- a book value of some $2.5 million. And management estimates

it would cost three times that to replace the existing facilities. The port has a .IB-foot, 3.5-mile main channel from the Gulf of Mexico and along the channel has numerous installa- Warehouses and 29 general cargo piers form a major part of the huge complex of the port of Mobile. Large building at top right is tions including industrial sites, military bases, repair yards grain elevator with ship-loading capacity of 50,000 bushels per hour. and pri\ate ocean terminals. Above that are cement plant, aluminum plant, and ore terminal. (See p. 13)

Massive crane equipment services ships moored at the ore terminal where minerals are loaded and unloaded at the port of Mobile. Serving this section of the port is a loading tower for handling outbound movements of ores and minerals with a rotary rail car dumper and a telescopic chute with trimmer.

The Panama Canal Review Panama's Free Zone:

What Does it Mean?

AN IDEAL way to do business in Latin a close look at regulations that establish- America is to find an ideal location, free ed the Free Zone and in the experience from interference and redtape, with a that 435 firms have had in operating reliable labor suppK and a stable econ- there. omy. Add to this a very special tax break A study by Thomas E. Lvons, of the and people who make it easy for \ou U.S. Department of Commerce, had to succeed, and \ou have a perfect recommended a Free Zone in 1946. A Osvaldo Cuaragna, Promotion Director of setup. decree in June of 1948 created the Colon the Free Zone. His problems are focused on the future as the Free Zone continues To the foreign businessman, Panama's Free Zone, but it was not activated until to grow. Free Zone at Colon offers all this, and 1951, when a law established small Free more. Started in 1951, its rate of growth Zones (Zonitas) within the citv of Colon. $1,200 in tax. And the profit is figured reflects an amazing economic vitality As the Executi\e Secretary of Foreign as net— after all operating costs and ex- and its operation has contributed signif- Trade Zone for the Department of Com- penses have been deducted. Tax on icantly to the economy of the Republic. merce, L\ons saw the future of a Free $100,000 corporate profit in the United Back in 1953, Free Zone firms hand- Zone in Panama, and men of vision in States would run closer to $40,000. led $14.3 million in goods. In 1965, this the Republic agreed. Their estimate of ARE FREE FROM fees, duties, con- had zoomed to .$240 million, nearly 20 its value has been proven bv the spiral- tributions, dues or other imposts on times the 1953 \olume. Its growth fig- ing success of the enterprise. goods entered, stored, handled or leav- ures all follow the same pattern— giant The benefits to a foreign firm are ing the Free Zone. There are no li- leaps each year. Over the past 6 vears many. First, there are the guarantees censes or other permits to buv from anv the rapid climb in imports and e-xports of the Panamanian Government that municipal or government agency. has helped Latin merchants and Pan- Free Zone businesses: ama's economx', and indications are that PAY 10 PERCENT of the regular ARE EXEMPT from taxes on invest- the sunniest da\s are still ahead. Panamanian income tax on profits earned capital, dividends or remittances Why is this? Exactly what is a Free ed on sales outside the Republic of Pan- abroad, and there is no tax on capital Zone? What's in it for a business firm ama. This tax is computed on a 1954 gains when property or securities sold that decides to move into the Free Zone? formula. For instance, a U.S. companv have been held for more than 2 years. After all, such decisions are guided that made $100,000 profit on goods sent Firms may enter into a 20-year con- principally by the profit factor. The from the Free Zone and sold in other tract, and they are guaranteed exemp- answers to these questions are found in countries would pa\' a little under tion from any new taxes passed during

.iiiiuUl" III"

Among the many lines of Free Zone merchandise are toys, arranged here in a display that serves buyers from over Latin America.

4 February 1966 Encyclopedias, textbooks and reference works in Spanish are published in the Free Zone by Grafica Editora, which has trained nearly 100 Panamanians in the printing trades. The plant plans an expansion soon. their contract. This means a businessman can count on a period of stabilitv.

There is also a large pool of skilled, trainable labor in the Colon area. Turn- over of help is small and the enthusiasm of employees is high. Colon had a seri- ous unemployment problem before the Free Zone was established. The work force now stands at about 2,000, including 83 Panamanians working in actual administration of the area. Employees are well paid. Thev enjov a varietv of fringe benefits from big firms such as Pfizer, Gillette, Squibb, Peikard, Fire- stone, Lucas, Goodvear, Motta, and Coca Cola. Some of the enterprises doing business in the Free Zone are represented bv a corporation that combines to serve several. Bizca\na International, for instance, lists Hormel & Co., Stokely-Van Camp, Plumrose and Gerber under its nameplate. Others, such as Gillette, have a separate operation. There are 58 buildings on 60 of the total 100 acres of land in a neatlv fenced and well kept area that has been planned from

the first. About 70 percent of the firms are U.S. firms; others are Japanese, British, French, Italian, or Spanish. Outlining the operation of a foreign fiiTn in the Free Zone will show how , , „ _ „ i_ l »i. the Zone. Here, buyers have ttie . , A sales display room of Peikard, International, m Free (see p- H) advantage of viewing goods handled by the company.

The P.^.nam..^ Canal Review The Proud People of The River

THEY CALL themselves people of the river. The name applies to tlie men and women living on the shores of Gatun and Madden Lakes who work along the fertile banks of the Chagres, Indio, and Pequeni rivers and who have settled near the small creeks in those areas. The li\es of tliese men and women .\ nook in Gatun Lake. Quay and dockyard for launches. are closely linked to the rivers. cle, and a riverman's most loyal transform sections of jungle into They live in picturesque villages with friend, is made from a hollowed-out farmland, is boundless. On these capricious names like "Little Giant," tree trunk. No one knows who built plots they grow plantain, corn, rice, "Red Wine," and "Little Alligator"- the first cavuco but some believe it beans, and other crops which they some on very small plots of land. The originated in pre-Columbian times sell in the marketplaces of nearby rivers are their highways. Using the and that the vessel held great reli- cities. Herds of cattle graze at lake- cayuco they travel to market with gious significance for ancient Indian sides and along riverbanks. In every their harvest. On the same waters little house pigs and chickens scurry tribes. It is in a water-filled cayuco their children tra\el to school. The people of the river sell that the newborn babies receive about. The rivers are even important in their these animals to buy the basic articles spiritual lives; they are the frames their first bath. they cannot produce—such as the of their religious festivals. The perseverance and energy of transistor radio that keeps them in The cavuco, an indispensable vehi- these people, who year after year contact with the rest of the world. These proud people like to live well, but they neither accept nor ask favors. Guillermo Flores, a hard working man who arrived in this region 20 years ago, settled on a small piece of land on which he planted orange trees and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Today he reaps the product of his orange groves. His wife, Doiia Juana, takes pride in her housekeeping. They live in a small, cozv home with immaculate floors. Communication between villages and transportation of products to

market is by launch. But the rivers have many shallow spots where ca- vucos and boats have to be pushed with palancas (oars) made from strong palo nian'a, a Hglit, strong wood. Rupertino Robles, a man of prestige in this area, is the cavuco (See p. 21) Zenobia Tome pounds rice on a pestle.

6 February 1966 The town store—social center of the villages.

A moment of rest to feed the stock.

A home in the lake region.

The Panama Canal Review )

Deviations In Panama's Coins

Intriguins To Numismatists

(Editor's Note; This article was sk\' with the moon rising over the waves that the Canal is of the sea level class, prepared and in print before and the sun setting behind the moun- not the lock tvpe which actually exists. the Panama Government recently tains. In the cincuentenario, however, The director of the mint in Mexico announced that Panama coins the shield includes a canal cut through reported the designs were received from would be offered to collectors at from ocean to ocean while all earlier the Panama Government and based on a premium. coin issues-1904, 1905, 1931, 1934, these designs modeling was made by and 1947—show the Isthmus without the mint's designer, resulting in the UNEXPLAINED ALTERATIONS in the Canal. Just why this Canal was interpretation shown in the coins. Panama's coat of arms as it appears on inserted and how it went unnoticed are Only 50,000 pieces, a relatively low two separate issues of coins and which questions of interest to sharp-eyed number, of the cincuentenario were apparently escaped detection for years collectors. produced and it is now out of circula- are of great interest to many local tion. In March 1965, the national numismatists. Panama's first coin not minted by the bank of Panama recalled balboas by The coins, issued in 1953 and 196L United States, the cincuentenario, was earlier Panamanian carry manv other modifications from produced 'bv the Casa de Moneda de decree. The five issues minted in much greater similar coins minted previously and sub- Mexico, in Mexico City. The insertion were quantities: 1904, 1,800,000; 1905, sequentlv. The variances first appeared of the Canal carried over to the 10-, 200,000; 1934, on the 1953 balboa, referred to as the 25-, and 50-cent coins of the cincuen- 1,000,000; 1931, 225,000; and 1947, 500,000. All of cincuentenario because it was issued tenario. The Canal was apparent, too, minted at Philadelphia ex- in commemoration of the 50th anni- in Panama's 1961 coinage, also minted these were 1934 coins, produced in San versar^ of the Republic of Panama. bv Mexico; but it was not present in cept the The center of the shield in the coat the 1962 issue, produced bv the Royal Francisco. brilliant, uncir- of arms normalh' shows the Isthmus of Mint of England. Another curious A cincuentenario in Panama bounded bv two oceans and the feature of the 1953 and 1961 coins is culated condition sells for $9, a price

Isthmus to represent the Canal, and This is the famed cincuentenario of which only 50,000 were minted. Notice the cut through the that there are only three fingers showing on the right hand of the standing liberty.

8 February 1966 The first of Panama's six crown-size silver coins. It became practically extinct when speculators had them melted down during the silver crisis of 1917-20. Notice on the obverse that the Isthmus in the coat of arms is uncut from ocean to ocean as on the 1953 cincuentenario. which some experts consider below its conesponding U.S. coins. The purpose actual value when compared with coins of the change in law was to allow both commanding greater sums. It is closely to be used interchangeably in coin held out of circulation today and has machines and in general use without an aura of national sentiment due to mistaking the value of the coins. its scarcity and historic significance. Silver balboas were struck in 1934 and again in 1947, both exactly the This nation's coin history dates back same design as the 1931 issue. Then, to a few months after Panama declared in 1953, came the commemorative cin- independence from Colombia when in cuentenario with its fascinating devia- 1904 the Legislative Assembly created tions that washed over into the 1961 a monetary structure for the new nation. issue but did not extend to the 1962 The monetary unit was called a balboa mintage. in honor of Vasco Nufiez de Balboa, the Spaniard who discovered the Besides the canal differences, there Pacific Ocean in 1513 from the heights are numerous other variances which set of the Isthmus. off the cincuentenario from the earlier that The balboa is the equivalent of the coins. These differences indicate U.S. dollar and both are used inter- the 1931, 1934 and 1947 balboas were obviously struck with a die different changeably. Panama, however, has no Roberto Lewis, the Panamanian artist who paper money so U.S. bills are used and designed the reverse of the 1931 Panama from that used for the cincuentenario. silver crown. are officially referred to by Panamanians The 1953 coin utilizes modern block as balboas. capital letters as compared with roman The first two of six Panama crowns letters on the 1931 series of balboa. were issued in 1904 and 1905 with a tent exceeded their face value. Today The coat of arms for the 1953 balboa value of 50 centesimos and they were they are considered by collectors as key shows a rake while a hoe is shown in composed of .900 fine silver and .100 coins due to their scarcity and despite the other issues. The bust, foot, and copper. The\' are not real crowns, com- the fact that quantities were held head size of the standing liberty figure pared with the balboas as known today, by the National Bank of Panama's varies between the cincuentenario and because of their low face value, but numismatic collection. the earlier issues. The sticks of the they were of crown size. at the bottom as on The third Panamanian crown was fasces are not tied the 1931 series. Between World War I and 1920, issued in 1931 after Panama's national the 1953 balboa, the forearm of they were almost obliterated from cir- coinage law was amended to stipulate On lady crosses through the first "e" culation when speculators had them that all future coins would be the same the melted becaus? their silver bullion con- composition, size, value and weight as (See p. 10)

The Panama Canal Review Coat of Arms Change Noted

(Continued from p. 9)

of the word beneficio in the motto,

whereas the forearm on the 1931 series crosses bet\veen the "e" and the "n." The size of the date on the 1953 coin

is reduced. The right hand of the standing figure on the 1953 has only a thumb and three fingers showing and the oak branch she holds varies considerably

in detail from the 1953 series balboas.

The lettering size of the fineness and weight designation varies between both

series of issues. The feet of the ladv on the 19.53 series stand further apart than

on the 1931 series. The scroll work in

Balboa's helmet is finer on the 1931 series than on the 1953 crown. The

rifle showTi on the 1931, 1934, and 1947 The 1931 Balboa was the first of the true silver crowns issued by Panama. It was struck crowns is of an older type than the one at the Philadelphia Mint. The Isthmus in the coat of anns follows the same design as on the 1904 design. on the cincuentenario.

Above is the obverse of the 1953, 1961, and 1962 half-crowns of Panama. Note that the 1953 and 1961, both minted by Mexico, show the sea level type canal across the Isthmus, whereas the 1962, struck in England, appears without a canal and conforms to the true version of Panama's coat of arms, which was designed in 1904.

10 Febru.'^by 1966 Future Bright

For Free Zone

Enterprise

(Continued from p. 5) it benefits. To begin with, a financial plan can be drawn up easily; Panama's

Balboa is on a par with the U.S. dollar,

and it's stable. There are several first rate banks, foreign and domestic, in Colon to handle transactions. If a corn- pan)' wants to start in a small way, the Free Zone itself will store goods in public warehousing and reship them as di- rected. Or, a management firm will take the company's goods, handle, label, yy^ f '..~^. pack, repack, and ship them. This wav,

the company rents no space, but has all

the service it requires. But it mav want to rent space in a Free Zone building. Rental is by the square meter on a

monthly basis. This is the principal income the Free Zone enjoys, money with which it puts up new buildings. Space in these may be rented, or the Free Zone will plan, finance, build, and lease entire buildings to one firm, buildings designed particularly for the operation of that firm. Operating from the Free Zone, a company finds its delivery time to the Latin markets cut by weeks, even months. This means added profits. It can hold a stock of goods in the Free Zone, which means the local merchant in, say. La Paz or Buenos Aires, is able Canon America Latina runs an assembly operation in the Free Zone. This worker is assem- to carry a smaller number of each item. bling a camera; he also is a qualified repairman in the service department of the camera firm. This merchant saves the capital he would have to tie up in stocking a com- Zone finds that he can control his Latin opment brought about by Free Zone plete line of merchandise. He knows sales more closely. He can stock bulk activity. he can have an item from Panama bv material, label it according to the re- Panama has a reliable dollar, avail- air in a day or two, b\' ship in a week quirements of each country, offer a able financing, ready credit, and for the or so. Ordering from the factory in the greater variety of merchandise, and ship manufacturers—now being courted by United States meant weeks of waiting, it quickly to a Latin market 225 million Free Zone officials—there is the advan- lost sales and tremendous service prob- strong, a market in which rising imports tage of duty-free import of machinery' lems. He finds the Panama manager of now run more than SIO billion a year. and raw materials. Less than 3,000 feet the firm will drop in to see him from But why Panama? Couldn't a Free from the Free Zone are the piers at the time to time, a practice nearly impos- Zone succeed elsewhere with equal port of Cristobal. The U.S. Government sible with a U.S. base of operation. In ease? Probably not. Panama has the im- provides efficient freight handling here, some countries, a merchant must make and facilities are modem and absolutely an advance cash deposit of 150 percent, mense advantage of the Panama Canal. reliable. Shipping time is cut drastically. or more, for the goods he imports. And With more than 13,000 ships a year It is doubtful any other Latin country his money is tied up during delivery converging on the Canal, no other coun- time. So from the point of view of the try can match the shipping service. And can put together the set of economic man selling goods in Latin America, the there is handy access to both coasts of benefits that Panama is able to offer Free Zone has been a real factor in cut- Latin America. Tocumen airport has through its Free Zone. Panamanian ting costs, boosting sales and profits. risen to the top ten in the world in merchants also use the Free Zone. Thev And the firm's manager in the Free volume of airfreight handled, a devel- (See p. 21)

The Panama Canal Review 11 .

PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES SHIPPED THROUGH THE CANAL SS United States (All cargo figures in long tons) Pacific to Atlantic

Second quarter, fiscal year- Commodity Pays Fourth Visit Average 1966 1965 1951-55

Ores, various 1,896,804 1,753,980 1,033,433 Lumber 1,169,405 1,131,717 880,696 To Cristobal Petroleum and products (excludes asphalt). 4.32,585 .334,051 149,132 Wheat 484,842 332,561 439,626 Sugar— 573,956 701,024 205,431 THE SS UNITED STATES, which Canned food products 226,980 275,268 327,338 Nitrate of soda 182,822 184,158 327.6.35 called at Cristobal February 12 on a Barley 194,414 46,368 25,235 199,495 West Indies cruise, is not only one Bananas 326,770 342,748 Metals, various 292,927 308,474 184,663 of the world's largest and fastest Food products in refrigeration (except fresh 125,660 ships, but it probably will go down fruit) 230,002 231,145

Coffee - 99,213 110,401 55,757 in history as the world's greatest Fishmeal 111,535 279,274 ""47,896 passenger liner of all times, accord- Iron and steel manufactures 781,087 603,611 Pulpwood 127,661 130,409 46,525 article Digest. ing to an in the Marine All others 1,789,124 1,471,969 741,860 The ship set her famous blue ribbon Total 8,920,127 8,237,158 4,790,382 mark of 3 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes from Bishop Rock to Ambrose Lightship in 1952 at an average Atlantic to Pacific speed of 34.51 knots. She has held since. this coveted record ever Second quarter, fiscal year- Although there is a certain amount Commodity Average 1966 1965 of secrecy surrounding the liner and 1951-55

it is of its engineroom, a matter pub- Automobiles and parts 118,523 111,459 68,824 lic record that she is capable of cruis- Rice 218,001 20,546 39,430 Cotton, raw 118,981 110,152 70,788 refueling. ing 10,000 miles without Coal and coke 1,610,018 1,415,118 594,946 Her crusing speed, which is far below Phosphates 986,684 844,246 181,170 Soybeans 724,866 558,486 128,551 is that of its top speed, way beyond Wheat 270,067 187,413 26,711 anv other ocean liner afloat. It is a Iron and steel manufactures 349,261 415,447 415,441 Corn 668,776 501,271 31,270 shorter than the Queen Eliz- few feet Machinery 116,182 128,935 74,768 abeth but its carrying capacity is Ores, various 484,453 377,887 17,271 Metal (scrap) 260,845 772,857 13,654 about the same—some 2,000 passen- Paper and paper products 131,217 180,493 97,333 gers and 1,000 crewmembers. It is Petroleum and products (excludes asphalt). 3,510,522 3,162,740 901,706 Chemicals, unclassified 230,426 224,522 44,1.32 completely air conditioned. Vast All others 1,877,985 1,799,929 1,300,746 quantities of aluminum were used in Total 11,676,807 10,811,501 4,006,741 its decks and superstructure, thus

making it both lighter and, by low-

ering its center of gravity, more C.V.N AL TRANSITS - stable. Her stacks are not sawed off stovepipes but are helmeted with wide finned caps called "sampans" in nautical language. Together with the graceful lines and proportions of the hull, they give the ship a racy look. Her narrow beam (101.7 feet) permits her to pass through the Panama Canal although her length of 990 feet

might make it a tight squeeze in the other direction. The United States was built to be completely and absolutely fireproof. All upholstery and hangings are made of glass fibre or flameproof synthetics. The only pieces of wood CANAi, ( ()\i\iEK(;i.\L tiuffr: by .natio.nality ,LS

S.S. United States on board are the pianos in the salons and the butcher's blocks in the gal- leys. The real mysteries, says the Marine Digest, are below decks in the engineroom. All facts about the propulsion plant are classified from two points of view—by the Navy as military information and by the owners. The ship made three other calls at Cristobal, the last being in February 1963. Panama Agencies represent the United States Line in the Canal Zone.

iPort of yiioblle

(Continued from p. 3) The Alabama State Docks has 31 berths with a bulk handling plant for ores, a shipside cold storage and freez- ing plant, cotton compress and ware- house of 50,000-bale capacity and facilities for crating, packing, and drum- ming. Its public grain elevator has a shipside storage capacity of 1,600,000 bushels and a ship-loading capacity of 50,000 bushels per hour. A terminal railway has a switching system connecting the docks to all railroad lines serving the port; seven diesel locomotives switch the cars to and from pierside. Serving the port are more than 100 steamship lines, 4 trunk line railroads, 24 truck lines, 3 common carrier barge lines, and airlines. The port's trade territory includes the mid-continental United States from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Denver Colo. The

ocean terminal is supported by foreign freight forwarders, customhouse bro- kers, U.S. Customs, stevedoring firms, steamship agencies, ship chandlers, pi- lots, towing companies, testers, banks with foreign departments, consular corps, and marine surveyors. Unique Specialists Play Vital Roles In Panama Canal

THE STORY OF the building of the admeasurer to anglesmith to sailmaker Panama Canal is one of the richest and woodworker, the Canal organiza- epics of U.S. historx'. It has left a tion has a very special assembly of deep imprint in annals of mankind and workers geared to putting ships through his endeavors. A hodgepodge of hu- the Canal.

manity from many lands was involved The Canal is a complex operation. in building a ditch wide enough and Skilled engineers, technicians, teachers, deep enough to transit the largest ships doctors, office workers, and hundreds of plying the seven seas. Men of steel other trained emplovees are as impor- conquered the contours of nature, and tant to the operation and maintenance men of genius invented and built of the waterway as builders were to its the complex electrical and mechanical construction. equipment to operate and maintain the The Canal employs a number of per- watersvay. sons who perform unique, highly spe- Today, men of great skill and dedica- cialized work. These men and their fel- Panama Canal Admeasurer Otis M. Ramey, tion carrv on the work that began the low workers have the responsibility of Jr., measures the engineroom with the help of Kare Bergene, chief steward on the ship. day the Canal was completed. From expediting the transit of ships, from all

Stanford F. McKenzie, Industrial Division employee, demonstrating typical process of saw filing.

14 February 1966 nations, from one ocean to the other, or provide a supporting function to this primary mission. High on the Hst of specialists in the Panama Canal is the admeasurer who boards vessels and measures them to determine tolls to be paid to the Canal. In other parts of the world, the admeasurer measures vessels to determine pay scales to be paid to personnel working on the ship, and to set wharfage and dock tolls. A newcomer to Canal waters will be measured from stem to stem. Complex mathematical formulas are used to calculate these measurements. The admeasurer uses technical proce- dures and rules to determine the ton- nage of the vessel—both gross and net. Using as an international basis 100 cubic feet to equal one measurement ton, the admeasurer determines the tolls. In 19.54, the admeasurer also assumed the duties of customs and immigration, and quarantine officer. General ship's information documents, such as clearance from last port; passenger, crew and stores lists; cargo declarations; national register; and other documents required of a ship are delivered to the admeasurer. This man with the yardstick per- forms a vital role in the Canal operation. The marine traffic controller has a unique role in the world's oceangoing activity. There are manv marine traffic controllers throughout the world's waterways and ports but none control a system so complex as the Panama Canal. Anglesmith Armando Cruz is shown bending a 1-inch steel plate on a 300-ton hydraulic Scheduling and control of the ever-in- press as his helper Jose M. McKenzie looks on. creasing ship traffic through the Canal are his responsibilities. Working 24 to best, and they are experts in building '

48 hours ahead, the controller is in con- boats of wood, plastic, fiberglass, and tinuous contact with ships through auto- aluminum. matic electronic equipment at strategic Oceangoing vessels periodically need points along the Canal. In keeping with overhauling and repairs. And, from time the changes in the traffic pattern, and to time, ships transiting the Canal need using ETA (estimated time of arrival) emergency work. Drydock facilities at or readiness times of transiting ships, the PanCanal can meet all these needs. controller prepares transit schedules and Shops at Mount Hope and Balboa transmits them to the locks, arranges for handle all types of marine repair—from deckhands and tug service, determines the simplest to the most complicated. pilot requirements and coordinates the For example, Mount Hope is one of the boarding party. The marine traffic con- few shipyards in the world that can re- troller also controls harbor traffic. pair propeller tips, or rework damaged As long as the world's oceans and propeller sections. waterways have been \ital to world An important specialist in this area commerce, skills in boatbuilding and is the shipwright who sets up the dry- ship repair have been a prized ability. dock. His operation requires a consid-

The Canal's Industrial Division is proud erable knowledge of ships—their archi- of its many experts and highly specializ- tecture and engineering. Blocking up a ed men. Craft to handle the flow of ship after it is drydocked is a most im- traffic in the Canal harbors, launches portant part of the operation. Improper for passenger and utility service, and blocking would be catastrophic. work launches used bv the Navigation Among the highly specialized indus- Division are built by the Gamboa trial workers is the anglesmith, a black- -.1 I 1 ^ . 1 of the shipwright have made 1. „i ; ,»„ ^^PExpert hands Launch Facilitv. smith who u'orks structural steel into Repair These boat- ^^.^ ^^^^^, .^ perfectly level before builders compare with the world's (See p. 21) starting repairs.

The Panama Canal Review 15 CAMAL HISTORY

50 l/earJ c4§o 25 yearJ c4g.o 10 IJearJ c4g^o

EXCAVATION was still being carried THE WAR in Europe was having its THE PANAMA CANAL'S power con- \ersion on in Gaillard Cut to remove the slide effect on the Panama Canal 25 years project moved into high gear early in 1956 with bids which had closed the Panama Canal ago although the United States had not being opened for the Atlantic area conversion, one of since October 18, 1915. By Decem- yet become involved. the key contracts of the It ber 20, 1915, the channel at the bases program. was President Roosevelt in Washington estimated that the conversion of 25-cycle of the Culebra slides had been opened ordered that the U.S. Fleet be placed electrical equipment would take about enough to allow the passage of six light- on a wartime footing immediately. The 4 vears. The first TV sets were placed draft vessels. No predictions were being Secretary of War announced the forma- on display at the Balboa and Cristobal made of the time of probable opening. tion of a new U.S. Army Caribbean Retail Stores. Meanwhile a committee of scientists and Defense Command for the purpose of Testimony on several matters of vital engineers, appointed by the National strengthening defenses of the West- interest to the Canal administration was Academy of Sciences to study the slides ern Hemisphere. Lt. Gen. Daniel \'an heard by the Panama Canal Subcom- to deal in Gaillard Cut and suggest ways mittee of Vorhis was placed in command with his the House Merchant Marine Isthmus. with them, arrived on the and Fisheries Committee in the hearings headquarters at Quarry Heights, C.Z. The construction of the walls of the held in the Board Room of the Admin- U.S. Congressman in Washington concrete group of buildings, connected A istration Building at Balboa Heights. by arcades, to house the permanent said that the Panama Canal was being Among the subjects discussed was the Colon Hospital was practically com- converted into an impregnable fortress proposed abandonment of the Panama pleted in Januar\'. It was expected that with the locks being housed in shields Railroad and pending legislation relating the new buildings could be occupied "which no bombs could dent." He said to the allocation of tolls and redistribu- by April 1916. that the hills surrounding the waterway tion of the costs of the Canal Zone were alive with heavily comouflaged Government. The size of the new battleships Idaho, anti-aircraft nests to ward off mass air Soda water bottling operations of the California, in construc- Mississippi, and attacks. Supply Division were terminated at the tion 50 years ago, was a matter of end of November 1955, closing an The Canal Zone's first ladies' home interest to Canal authorities. The new acti\'ity which was first established defense pistol club was organized at the during the early ships would be the largest in the U.S. Canal construction Pedro Miguel Stadium under the spon- period. Governor Seybold said the deci- Navy, with a beam of 97 feet 4 inches. sorship of Physical Director H. T. Leisy sion was made in light of the develop- These vessels in passing through the and the Pedro Miguel Gun Club. ment of the soda water bottling industry Canal, it was pointed out, would have in Panama. Work on the excavation of the third a clearance of 12 feet 8 inches in the The regular .5-year overhaul was locks at Gatun was rushed with men and locks chambers. The vessel of the begun in January at Gatim Locks with greatest beam to pass through the Canal equipment being brought to the Isth- approximately 775 extra men being up to that time was the battleship Ohio mus to remove 12 million cubic yards employed for the job. with a beam of 72 feet. of material at a cost of $6,500,000. One yiear c4g.o THE BEAUTIFUL new eight story Gorgas Hospital annex opened in Feb- ruary' 1965 without fanfare or ceremony. Key activities of the hospital began to move into the new building early week of February- 25. Major part of the move, most clinics, the pharmacy, operating suite, the business office and patients on the surgical wards, was made over weekend of February 26. Vacation jobs were provided for approximately 130 Panamanian students by a student employment program sponsored by th" Canal organization. The program was established for high school and universitv students in the Panama school svstem and the Canal Zone Latin .American schools. The program, started a year ago, was similar to the student assistant program which the Canal organization conducted for many years for graduates of the Canal Zone's This float, sponsored by the Panama Canal and Panama Railroad, won first prize in the 1937 Panama Carnival. See pages 22 and 23 for more on this much celebrated festival. U.S. schools.

16 Febru.ary 1966 IMPROVED TRAINING PROGRAMS OPEN DOORS TO THE FUTURE

MANY NEW CAREER employment The prospect of a sea level canal in the into Canal employment through: for are foreseeable future makes this policy opportunities Panamanians being • AN EXPANDED apprentice pro- created this year through the opening even more important. giam of new training routes into the Canal The problem, however, is that there • A LEARNERSHIP program organization. are not yet enough Panamanians with • A COOPERATIVE education Three times as many non-U. S. em- the variety of skills the Panama Canal program needs. Larger numbers are coming along ployees as U.S. citizens now are on • AN OFFICE SERVICE training of with increasing skills, and in an effort to Canal employment rolls. At the end program, plus new programs added to the Canal organization meet the Canal organization's demands, November had existing training programs. These are 10,953 non-U. S. employees. This figure training programs are being launched designed to train skilled labor as retire- will approximately 150 and expanded. increase by ments and separations from the Canal this year through new or expanded The Canal is undertaking special organization increase. training programs, with larger numbers measures to make greater utilization of Recruitment of Canal organization of non-U. S. citizens to come into the local employment resources. There has employees in Panama makes good sense organization as the training programs been an apprentice program for Pan- for a number of reasons, including good gain momentum. amanian as well as United States cit- international relations. The program is izens since 1906. As a result of action In view of the high cost and diffi- organizationally sound, essential, and by President Eisenhower, almost twice culty of U.S. recruitment and the cur- good economics. Employment of non- as many Panamanian as United States rently tight housing situation. Canal U.S. citizens is considerably less expen- citizens now are participating in the officials are making every effort to fill sive in terms of cost of recruiting in the organization's training programs. vacant jobs in the Government/Com- United States, and eventual repatriation. pany organization through local sources. Panamanians are now being brought (See p. 18)

Learning by doing, apprentice Eugenio Cham Ng appraises a piece of work being done on a metal lathe.

The Panama Canal Review 17 Power, its mathematical formula and electrical significance are explained by instructor Carroll Robertson (left) to students (left to right) John M. Eberenz and Ernesto L. Blake.

Skilled Panamanians Are Needed

To Fill Vacancies In Canal Zone

(Continued from p. 17) greater because of an aging work force. drawn, are also populated with oldsters.

Each employment of a non-U. S. citizen During the next 1.5 years, disturbingly This is partly a result of the activity in a vacant U.S. base position eases the large numbers of people will retire from during World War II when the Canal PanCanal housing shortage. At the same the organization because of age or op- hired thousands of helpers and similar time, the effort to meet the needs of tional retirement. An analysis of the age employees. the Canal organization carefully avoids and service of all employees in higher- Intensive training and development jeopardizing jobs or the promotional skilled, professional or managerial posi- programs are designed to give the orga- aspirations of present employees. tions shows that within the ne.xt 5 years nization the flexibility it needs to meet Keeping the Panama Canal organiza- 894 U.S. -citizen emplo\ees will be 55 its long-range staffing needs, and to tion supplied with the right numbers of and eligible to retire voluntarily with at make local recruitment easier. These competent workers for the job at the least 30 years' service, or would retire programs will develop Panamanians to right place and at the right time has mandatorily at the age of 62. In the fill many of the positions that will always been a fundamental concern of next 15 years, 2,610 people may retire, become available over the next 10 years.

Canal management. In the past it was the survey shows. This amounts to One of these is the Leamership Pro- possible, without great effort, to insure about two-thirds of the top positions. gram now training young men for helper a variety of manual skills to keep the In addition to these vacancies, there positions. Gradually, the program will Panama Canal at top operational level. will be others through resignations, put younger people into the organiza- Today, vacancies occur faster than removals, transfers, deaths, and disabil- tion. Applicants are of high school cal- the Canal can find people with the skills, ity retirements. Experience shows that iber and, since the typical middle-aged education, and or know-how to fill nearly twice as many vacancies occur helper has less than an elementary ed- them. Canal Zone employment condi- through these causes as from voluntary ucation, the average education level of tions are not relatively as attractive as or mandatory retirement. the employee group will be raised. Many they used to be in terms of housing or Many Canal employees, especially promising learners may later transfer to fringe benefits. helpers, are middle-aged, and their po- apprenticeships, leading to a journey-

To further compound the manage- tential for promotion is minimal. The man status and, possibly, supervisory ment problem, employment needs are registers, from which replacements are positions.

18 February 1966 The Learnership Program is expected

to increase efficiency because it teaches learners a wider range of job abiUties. This contrasts in some cases with present helpers who perform onlv the less skilled elements of positions. Furthermore, the greater use of helpers and other workers will free journeymen for their higher level tasks, producing more effectiveness and economy in craft work.

The Learnership Program is also a gateway for man\' young men for entry to the Apprenticeship Program. More than half the learner helpers became ap- prentices last year; additional apprenticeships were filled from the register. A cooperative education program, open to students of a baccalaureate level degree-granting institution, will select University of Panama students to work full time and also attend the university. A rerjuirement for continued employment will be that they keep their grades up at the universitv. Work at the Canal will be coordinated with the university program of professional study.

This cooperative education program is designed to fill an increasing need for college-trained people cjualified to rise through the Canal organization.

Qualifications for entering the Pan- ama Canal organization have not been lowered, PanCanal personnel officials point out, and promotions will come only on merit.

While the cooperative education program is beamed at nonmanual employees at the college level, there will be an office services trainee program at lower levels.

Office services trainees will start at the NM-1 level, in 6 months will be pro- moted to the NM-2 pav level and are expected to complete the program in a year, graduating to the NM-3 level.

Training is centered in developing the skills of a well-rounded office employee. Workmen lay blocks at the Panama Canal Training Center in Balboa where several new These office service trainees also will classrooms are being added. This project, part of the Personnel Bureau's program to expand be required to take certain ofl-dut) its training facilities, will be completed by July 1. courses including stenography and ad- vanced tvping as a condition of their emploNment. This should provide them with special skills which will better prepare them for ad\ ancenient to more United States and 2.50 Panamanian construction is ready to begin on office responsible office and administrative students participate in this program space and classrooms for apprentice positions. aimed at the preprofessional level. training in the presentlv inactivated in-

The additional initial cost of the pro- dustrial shop area in Balboa which is Other programs include training dur- posed programs will be approximately under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Navv. ing summer vacations for U.S. and half a million dollars a year. Almost These facilities should be ready bv late non-U. S. students, at different times of four-fifths of this amount goes straight March or mid April and will be used as the year. Students are paid for up to into the econom\- of Panama by way of a site for "vestibule" trade-school ap- 3 months' work in areas related to the salaries paid to Panamanians. prentice training in the basic machinist individual's school studies. About 150 In addition to these new facihties. and electrical crafts.

The Panama Canal Review 19 ANNIVERSARIES

I On tn^ feasi! of fnf^/ FcJeral Service)

SUPPLY AND COMMUNITY SUPPLY AND COMMUNITY Irving G. Hay SERVICE BUREAU SERVICE BUREAU Pilot Samuel H. Rowley Albertina L. Wright John W. Gittens Master, Towboat Leader Marker and Sorter Teller Lionel E. C. McClean Vivian L. Bonney ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION Lead Foreman AND Clerk (Cemetery) BUREAU Peter Neblett Edith C. Harper Sales Clerk Retail Store Department Manager Edgar F. Daggett (Supermarket) Thomas G. Relihan Water System Operator Program Manager Arundel A. Hall MARINE BUREAU Agatha H. Walters Supervisory Clerk Laborer Sylvester E. Harding Jose Archibold Boiler Tender Launch Captain MARINE BUREAU Motor William C. Jordan John E. Erickson Julio L. Jimenez Master, Small Tug General Foreman (Harbor)^ Leader Maintenancem, -Alexander Watt Alphonso T. Fearon Wire Cable) Chief Engineer, Towboat Vivian Linehandler ^ M. Stewart /Anderson Gaillard Helper Machinist • Thomas F. Gibson I Pipelayer General David S. Henry Foreman, Carpenter Benito Garrido Leader Linehandler Torrence E. Lord Y \^ Helper Sheetiiietal Worker Bnatswain) Leader Seaman , Oscar S. Green « Rodolfo Becford Stafford A. NebIeK Property Record Clerk Helper Lock Operator Teletypist Iwarrf H. NeWlle, Leopold Cimino Jr. Hydraulic Engineering Technician ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION Lock Operator (Electrician Alvin V. Stewart BUREAU H. A. Kleefkens Toolroom Mechanic Supervisory Marine Traffic Altimon C. Barber Gerardo Teran Controller Painter Clerk (Work Orders) Leroy C. Mask Wilson Elton Clarke Linehandler (Deckhand) Leader Asphalt or Cement Worker TRANSPORTATION AND TERMINALS Duayne T. McNeil Kenneth A. Brown BUREAU Marine Traffic Controller Leader Painter Jose A. Palacios Charles C. Vreux OFFICE OF THE Boatman Automotive Machinist GOVERNOR-PRESIDENT Vincent W. Watson Bernard Dorfman Seaman Supervisory Freight Agent S. D. Callender Grennett R. Cooper Frank L. Titus Administrative Officer Linehandler (Deckhand) Cargo Checker HEALTH BUREAU Mary L. Clark Nurse Supervisor (General Medical and Surgical Hospital) Marie K. Corrigan Staff Nurse (Obstetrics) LilHan L. Pratt Nurse Supervisor (Medicine and Surgery) Eusebio Diaz Exterminator Stanford A. Myrie Leader Hospital Food Service Worker OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR-PRESIDENT Annie F. McDade Secretary (Stenography) COMPTROLLERS OFFICE Hylton Lewis Warehouseman Harold Miller Bookkeeping Machine Operator Florence M. Pierson Accounting Technician CIVIL AFFAIRS BUREAU Four ex-Presidents of the Republic of Panama were among high ranking members of the Panamanian and United States communities who paid tribute to Gov. Robert J. Fleming, Jr., Eugene Breakfield recently at a Panama Steamship Association luncheon. The Governor was presented a scroll Foreman, Mail Handling in recognition of his outstanding achievements in increasing the efficiency of the Panama Unit (IP) Canal. Left to right are Ernesto de la Guardia, former President of Panama; Jose Domi- Peter S. Proback nador Bazan. former President of Panama, now Minister of Government and Justice: Police Private G. Sanders, Jr. Dr. Ricardo J. Alfaro, former President of Panama; Charles W. Adair, Jr., U.S. Ambas- Bruce sador to Panama; Governor Fleming; Frank Zeimetz, president of Panama Agencies Co.; Supervisory Customs Inspector Dr. Galileo Solis, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama; and Enrique A, Jimenez, Richard W. Stoudnor former President of Panama. Customs Inspector

20 Febhuabv 1966 (Continued from p. 11) may order goods, then pay duty only as they withdraw them from the Zone. As long as a merchant exports the required 60 percent of his volume, he may do business in the Free Zone.

About $10 million a year is added to Panama's gross national product through the Free Zone. A printing plant has been established and has trained nearly 100 Panamanians for skilled work. A French textile plant is slated to man- ufacture cloth from cotton grown in the *^*M"3ii||ili, Republic. Should manufacturing take root firmly, the value to the economy will be vast. Employment could soar to thousands and Colon might become the Detroit of Central America. Even now. Free Zone manager Ricar- do Chiari and his promotion director Osvaldo Guaragna, are thinking about expansion. The original tract will be gone by 1967; more land means filling in part of Manzanillo Bav or buving a tract in the heart of the city of Colon. Plans are under development to meet the

need. As Dr. Chiari says, "This is the A street in Escobal. Houses, palms, the church, and the lake. sort of problem you like to have." A hard and sustained drive for new business, combined with sound expansion plans and that most important ingredient — stabihtv — will insure the Uown Store Sj Jserve Center Free Zone continuing success as an economic factor of rising importance to the 3or People Of Z)ke J^iver Republic of Panama.

(Continued from p. 6) dream and passively enjoy living the expert. He came to this region many experiences depicted by writers in unique SkilL years ago, and settled at the edge of the novels and poems. Aquilino Rodriguez, Chagres River. Desiderio Pimienta, a who cultivates a small parcel of land in (Continued from p. 15)

Choco Indian from Sambu in Darien, is Lagarterita, is this tvpe of man. He loves complicated angles and shapes. His a Panama Canal palancaman. He and poetry and remembers, with veneration, handiwork is used primarily in ship his wife came to the lake region many his grade school teacher, the well-known repairs. years ago and with their children live Panamanian writer Gil Bias Tejeira, who Almost a rarity is the saw filer, who in an attractive little house. They have instilled in him his love for beautiful files saws to sharpen them. His work is an outboard motor and a bank account. literature. precise and requires immense patience Desiderio's main goal in life: a larger The town store is the nerve center and highly exacting skill. outboard motor to win the annual Sala- of these river villages. Here is where all The Panama Canal master diver and manca races held on the Pequeni River. the latest gossip is passed on. It is here salvage master is another unique mem-

The occupation of palancaman is old, that the lottery ticket vendor makes his ber of the Canal family. He trains divers dating to colonial times when gold was biggest sale; that the town policeman for ship repair and salvage work. He transported from Peru up the Chagres gives newcomers the once over. Maria is perhaps the most experienced diver to the Caribbean Sea. These skilled river Elias Soto de Ku, the owner of the Esco- in this hemisphere. From time to time, people played an important role in the bal town store, says with a smile, "We this expert is called to other countries California Gold Rush when the Isthmian are not in business. We simply manage to solve their diving problems and to shortcut meant money to adventurers. the place where people meet." give advice on whether or not a ship can

Today they are valuable to the Panama The river is everything to these hardy, be salvaged from the sea. Canal organization taking up river the industrious people who are the essence These craftsmen are dedicated to equipment and personnel needed to of simplicity and kindness. At the water- the operation and maintenance of one keep an eye on potentially dangerous holes they hunt animals for food. They of the great engineering wonders of

river waters that may rise suddenly. fish in it. The river is a bathtub, a the world—workers contributing to the In every place there are men who drinking cup, and a playground. economic pulse of world commerce.

The Panama Canal Review 21 HeaeC(H»ic4

HISTORY TELLS US that Carnival has been celebrated in Panama since the days of the Spanish conquistadores, when Old Panama was the center of manv dazzling and spectacular pageants. But the first official Carnival of the Republic was not until 1910. The 4-day festival, at first a simple celebration, has turned into splashes of color, parades, and dances, when Panama pulses with life and gaiety. The climax is on Tuesday and the early hours of Ash ^\'ednesdav when gav tamboreras slow to a funeral march, marking the sad end to a happv time. Parades of gaily decorated floats take us back to Colonial times when comparsas danced in the cobbled streets of Old Panama. Mock battles of serpentine and confetti remind us of the water fights of long ago. And as customarv, on Saturday, the first dav of Carnival, the noontime arri\al of King Carnival (Dios Momo), accompanied b\' his devils and their helpers, signals the beginning of the festival. Then mock battles and Girls in pulleras, men in montunos perform dance of the tunas. dancing continue to dawn.

Horseless carriages and horse-drawn vehicles carry participants in the 1912 Carnival through Cathedral Plaza in Panama City.

22 February 1966 In Colonial times, the streets were scenes of riotous water fights during the day, but at night, men in montunos and women in polleras danced through the towns in merry tunas. Mock battles then took on a romantic flavor and young men sprinkled exotic perfumes on their girls and gave them clusters of candles to carrv in the dance of the tunas.

Todav, the colorful Carnival of Las Tablas is in manv wavs like those of long ago. Singing groups, accompanied by drums and native guitars, still compete; thousands of dollars in fire- works are burned in happv battles of competition between the Calle Arriba (upper street gang) and Calle Abajo (lower street gang ) . histead of throwing water the mock battles are fought with French champagne. Here the Carnival has the nostalgic flavor of Panamanian folklore. For a simple Carnival even closer to the style of long ago Riding a serpent in the 1949 Carnival parade. travel past Las Tablas, into Santo Domingo, Las Palmas, or Pedasi. In a few minutes, you are in the Panama of the 1 8th centurv, and here is the oldest Carnival of them all.

Carnival revelers ride through street aboard oxcarts in Guarare, some 175 miles from Carlotita I, Carnival Queen of the Union Panama City. Club in 1954.

Waving, smiling to sea of faces are beauties atop float in 1949 Panama Carnival.

The Panam.\ C.^^nal Review 23 SH IMPING Super Trailerships PANAMA CANAL TRAFFIC New Kungsholm .STATISTICS FOR SECOND QUARTER SIX NEW super trailer ships which will FISCAL YEAR 1966 THE SWEDISH American Line's new serve Panama and transit the Panama TRANSITS (Oceangoing Vessels) Kungsholm will pass through the Pan- Canal are to be constructed within the 1966 J96.) ama Canal in October 1966 on an in- next years, it 5 has been announced by Commercial 2,973 3,027 augural cruise around South America, McLean Industries, Inc., parent com- I'.S. Govemmtn 139 73 it has been announced in New York. pany of Sea-Land Service whose con- Free 30 19 The cruise schedule is to sail from New tainer ships now sail every 10 davs both York October 19, and from Port Ever- Total 142 3,1! east and west in an intercoastal service glades TOLi.3 October 22. The vessel is to and stop in Panama in both directions. transit south Commercial $17,572,690 S16,576,286 through the Canal and will According to an article in the Novem- U.S. Government 843,481 349,300 call at Callao, Peru; \'alparaiso, Chile; ber issue of Brandon's Shipper and passing Cape Pillar on her way through T,,.,l .«l 8.416,171 $16,925,586 Forwarder, the new ships will be the the Strait of Magellan; then proceed- world's largest and fastest general cargo CARGO" ing to Punta Arenas, Chile; Falkland Is-

(cnin)er..ial . 20,693,539 19,055,207 carriers. Design plans are being devel- lands; Buenos Aires, Montevideo, San- U.S. Government 813,383 311,061 oped by Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. tos, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Bridgetown, will Free 113,182 103,181 which build the vessels at its Pesca- Barbados, and St. George, Grenada, goula. Miss., yard. Delivery of the first Total.-- 21,620,104 19,469,449 before returning to New York. ship is expected in June 1968 and the A well-known name in crusing circles, i lude.'S toUs on all vessels, oceangoing and last late or by 1969 early 1970. fcmail. the new Kungsholm is replacing a ship •"Cargo figures are in long tons. Present plans are that each of the of the same name which was trans- ships will be 905 feet long, have top ferred to the North German Llovd Line speed of 27.5 knots and a cruising speed last April and renamed the Bremen. of 25 knots. TTiey will be able to carry Largest Japanese Ship C. B. Fenton is agent for the Swedish 1,261 loaded truck trailers, which will American Line here. be loaded and unloaded by giant shore THE SHOZAN MARU, believed to be cranes. The partly automated vessels the largest ship flying the Japanese flag, will be powered bv two-gear turbines made her maiden transit through the which will develop a total horsepower Panama Canal in December on her way of 72,200, more than any cargo carrying from Peru to Rotterdam with a cargo ship in the world. They will carry no of 47,625 long tons of iron ore. Built passengers. in Tsurami Shipyards in Yokohama, the The new ships are tentatively sched- ship measures 743 feet in length and 104 feet wide. The vessel is owned by "i" ule to sail in Sea-Land's New York- north European service which will be Shawa Shipping Co., Ltd., and is inaugurated in April 1966 with smaller operated by San Juan Carriers. ships. They also will operate in the company's intercoastal trade. This will enable each of the vessels to start a voyage at the company's new terminal 1965 in Rotterdam, call at New York, San Juan, Balboa, Los Angeles, San Fran- cisco, and return in 42 days. Sea-Land, which has the world's largest fleet of highway transportation equipment combined with 16 ships in its container fleet, loads produce shipments into refrigerated vans right in the fields of west coast growers. The vans travel over the road to ports, loaded aboard the vessels and taken to the delivery port where the trailer body goes back on wheels for over-the-road delivery to consignees. From field to consignee, the shipments are under con- stant, closelv controlled and supervised refrigeration without exposure to heat at any point, a company official noted.

The Sea-Land agent in Panama is Bovd Bros.

Date Due M "'_'.„ rt/iflon 5i

' / LATIN AMfRiCA