The Panama Canal

The Government has been repeatedly clear that the amount of sewage discharged into our waters by water companies is unacceptable, and has taken direct action to accelerate progress in tackling it.

Through the Environment Act, it has introduced clear new duties to legally require water companies to make progressive reductions in the adverse impacts of storm overflows.

Any water companies not abiding by their permits are also expected to take immediate action to urgently address any non-compliance while these investigations are ongoing.

The Panama Canal

At our October meeting, Richard Thomas gave a fascinating presentation outlining the history, construction and operation of the Panama Canal.

The story begins in 1502 when Christopher Columbus visits Limon Bay on the east coast of Panama. He was followed by Vasco Nunez de Balboa who was first to cross the isthmus to the Pacific in 1532. The first survey for a route for the canal was made in 1534, but considered the construction of a canal to be impossible at that time.

Frenchman Count Ferdinand deLesseps (successful builder of the Suez Canal) finally began the construction of a sea level canal in 1880, however, geological problems and an outbreak of yellow fever brought the project to a halt and the company went into liquidation leaving many investors destitute. The French effort to build the canal cost an estimated 20,000 lives prior to the project being abandoned in 1889.

In 1906 approval was given for an American military project to construct a high-level locked canal. The project involved damming the river Gaton to form a large lake 85 feet above sea level, connected to the canal a flight of locks at the pacific end and 2 flights of locks at the Atlantic end.

The canal was officially opened in1914. Yellow fever, malaria and accidents cost the lives of another 5,600 construction workers. The 48 mile long canal proved to be a great success as it saved ships travelling between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; the 8,000 mile journey around Cape Horn.

The original canal could accommodate ships to what became known as ‘Panamax’ specification i.e. 106 feet wide x 965 feet long. In recent years increasing demand has necessitated the canal to be expanded to cope with larger vessels. New larger locks have been constructed at Agua Clara and Cocoli to the ‘New Panamax’ specification i.e. 168 feet wide x 1,200 feet long. Opened in 2016, the new locks operate in parallel with the original ones.

Many thanks to Richard for a most interesting evening.

Keith Alderton

The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England No 612245. Registered as a charity No 212342. Registered Office: Island House, Moor Rd, Chesham, HP5 1WA. Phone No 01494 783453.