The Panama Canal – Wonder of the World
As Oceans of Hope transits the Panama Canal this weekend the crew will experience first-hand one of the world’s most amazing engineering projects, one that cost lives and fortunes but changed the way of world commerce. It provides a massive mileage, time and fuel alternative to passage around Cape Horn for commercial shipping.
The first attempt to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans with a canal across this narrow neck of land was by the French during the 1880’s. The project suffered from poor management, under-funding and lack of good equipment, causing it to fold with massive debts and a staggering death toll of 22,000 workers – killed by rampant tropical diseases and excavation accidents.
At this stage the territory was Columbian, but by the early 1900’s a fierce war of independence was being fought by what was to become Panama. The USA, acutely aware of the high value a canal would have for commerce and navies, took the pivotal decision to support the rebellious Panamanians. In return for aid, protection and money the USA was granted the rights to the canal and soon took over where the French had left off, but with a full budget, military-style management and excellent equipment. This was not a universally popular move in the U.S. The New York Times stated at the time that it was “An act of sordid conquest.” However, nothing would deter President Roosevelt – this was one his many pet projects – and by 1914 the Panama Canal was open for business. A far more protective environment had been created for the workers during the 10 year long U.S. construction phase, but even so 5,600 workers perished.
Between the French and the Americans, an astonishing 155,000,000 cubic metres of Central American earth was excavated. During its first year 1,000 ships transited. By 2008 some 15,000 ships were passing through annually. As often happens, the geo-eco-political decision made at the beginning of the century started to backfire on the U.S. as Panama became a dictatorship. By the late 1940’s there was much unrest and anti-American feeling in Panama – exemplified by the book and film “The Tailor of Panama.” The situation became quite untenable and what originally had been an indefinite ownership of the canal began a slow handover process, which culminated in the 1999 transfer of canal ownership to the Panamanian Government.
As the world’s container ships have grown in size, so new locks are being built for them to be able to enter – massive new locks at both ends of the canal are due to be opened in 2016.
Passage of the canal is not free – transit fees represent a major component of the local economy and of the maintenance/improvement budget required. The smallest toll ever paid was 1 cent, for an adventurer who swam the 48 mile-long canal; the largest toll ever paid was close to US$400,000 for one of the world’s largest container ships.
Yachts are allowed to transit, but when they are over a certain size, such as Oceans of Hope is, they must be accompanied by an official pilot, who ensures safe passage.
Our intrepid crew will, courtesy of the canal, pass from Atlantic to Pacific in just a few hours sharing the locks with some massive commercial ships. Not so much the Tailors of Panama, more the Sailors of Panama!