“Have you ever crossed the Panama Canal?”. One of the many questions we seafarers face when dealing with land-based thieves is. “Where do they sleep on the ship at night?” Are you wise enough not to? The panama canal locks is probably one of the most amazing feats of engineering ever devised by mankind. Its enormous size tells a beautiful story of human perseverance, determination, and achievement. As sailors, we are a privileged group who get to know the best of man-made waterways. In a very personal way by navigating them. So it’s safe to say that it’s a moral obligation for us sailors to learn some of the complex facts. About what the American Society of Civil Engineers calls a wonder of the modern world.

Let’s Look At 5 Interesting Facts About Panama Below: 

Who Built The Panama Canal?

The United States was under President Theodore Roosevelt. However, few people know that the French started construction. The French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps started this work in 1881. Construction had to be halted in 1894, as yellow fever. And malaria killed an estimated 22,000 workers at a cost of approximately $287 million. Mr. Ferdinand de Lesseps. The Americans carried out the remaining work in 1904 after helping Panama break away from the former “Gran Colombia.” 

Building dams to supply water to canals was difficult. However, under the able leadership of  John Frank Stevens and  Major George Washington Goethals. Who later became chief engineer, the Madden Dam was built. And also the canal was completed in ten years. The Panama canal locks were officially opened on August 15, 1914. Two years before it was scheduled to open in 1916.

What Was The Very First Ship To Pass Through The Panama Canal?

According to records, the SS Ancon was the first ship to transit the Panama canal locks. The ship was an American-flagged cargo liner owned by the Boston Steamship Company. It was approximately 150 meters long and also 18 meters wide, had a payload of approximately 9,600 gross tons, and a draft of approximately 8.8 meters. It played a very important role in the construction of the canal, transporting workers, building materials, and, most importantly, large amounts of cement from New York to Panama for the construction of the panama canal locks.

How Much Time Will You Save By Crossing It?

The Panama Canal was first conceived by the Holy Roman Emperor and also the King of Spain, Charles V, in 1534 years. He believed that a canal across the Isthmus of Panama would greatly reduce the distance between Spain and also Peru, thereby giving them a military advantage over Portugal. It took nearly four centuries for his dream to become a reality, but since its opening, the Panama Canal has shortened the route from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and also back by (approximately) 8,000 nautical miles.

Sailing at an average speed of about  15 knots,  it would take 22 days. In contrast, crossing the Panama Canal takes approximately 8 to 10 hours. The Panama Canal not only saves ship owners and ship operators money and time, but it also prevents huge amounts of CO2 emissions and helps reduce the shipping industry’s carbon footprint.

How Much Does It Cost To Transit The Panama Canal?

The Panama Canal Authority uses the Universal Panama Canal  Measurement System “PC/UMS”, which is based on the international standard for ship measurements established by the International Convention on Measurement of Ships in 1969. Calculating tolls. Use the formula to calculate the total volume of the ship and determine the net tonnage of the canal. The net  tonnage of the canal is 100 cubic feet in volume. The appropriate charges are then applied depending on whether the ship is loaded or ballasted. 

Warships and other naval auxiliary vessels are calculated based on displacement in tons. A ton of displacement is equivalent to 1 long ton or 35 cubic feet of salt water. For practical purposes, a typical IMO Type III chemical tanker of approximately 50,000 DWT has a toll of approximately $135,000. In contrast, the toll for a Neopanamax size 83,000 DWT LNG tanker is approximately $260,000. The minimum fee Richard Halliburton paid in 1928 for him to swim in the canal was $0.36.

How Do  Locks Work And Why Do They Exist?

There are a total of 12 locks in the Panama Canal system. The first lock into the canal from the Pacific Ocean entrance is known as the Miraflores Locks. This is his two-stage flight, which raises or lowers the vessel to a height of 54 feet above mean sea level. Next comes Pedro Miguel’s curls. Single-stage flight to raise or lower a vessel 31 feet above mean sea level. Pedro Miguel Lock connects to Lake Gatun via the cove of Culebra Island. The last lock is known as the Gatun Lock. 

This is his three-stage flight, raising or lowering the ship to a height of 85 feet above mean sea level and opening into the Atlantic Ocean. All three locks are arranged in pairs so that, at least in principle, ships can sail in opposite directions. The main purpose of these certain locks is to prevent Lake Gatun from flowing into the Atlantic or  Pacific Ocean. This means there is always enough draft for the vessel to pass through.

What Is The Maximum Allowable Draft When Transiting Through The Panama Canal?

Each year, the ACP (Autoridad del Canal de Panamá) or Panama Canal Authority establishes size and draft limits for ships wishing to transit through the Panama Canal. We will issue a notice with details. As the new lock opened for commercial traffic on  June 26, 2016,  different requirements apply to vessels passing through the old and new locks. The older locks are called Panamax tablets, and the newer locks are called Neopanamax tablets. In 2018, the maximum draft for Panamax locks was 12.04 meters (39 feet 6 inches) of tropical freshwater (TFW). Tropical freshwater (TFW) is 0.9954 g/cm3 at 29.4 °C (85 °F). The Neo-Panamax lock has a maximum draft of 15.2 meters (49.87 ft) of tropical freshwater (TFW).

What Preparations Do I Need Before Arriving?

It is well known that the Panama Canal is one of the most important waterways in the world. Strict regulations apply to the entire Panama Canal shipping system to ensure the continued safe transportation of ships. Canal passage must be booked through an agent who will also send you a list of documents prior to your arrival. These documents are required for the vessel’s customs clearance upon arrival. Vessels arriving at anchorages in the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean must contact the Port.

Arrival Coordinator (PEC)  on VHF Channel 12 Cristobal or Flamenco Signal Station before any development takes place. Upon arrival at your anchorage in the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, a Panama Canal Authority (ACP) inspector will board the ship and also conduct a pre-transit inspection. All bridge equipment, steering gear, mooring winches, related equipment, main engines and other auxiliary machinery must be in proper working order to avoid delays or denials of ACP inspections.