Panama Canal traffic jam

THE LINE UP of ships waiting at both ends to transit the Panama Canal, is beginning to look like a floating version of the traffic jams that plague the streets of the capital city testing the endurance and tempers of those behind the wheel.

With the floating jam the need for patience can stretch into six days, and for larger vessels the transit can be made only in daylight. But that’s small time compared to a 20 day voyage around the Horn, with its added fuel and crew costs.

Recently up to 150 ships were waiting in line. By Wednesday of this week the number was down to 103, and by Friday the line had been reduced to double figures with only 93 at anchor.

This is  usually the busiest time of year but the average number of ships waiting is 35

The director of the Canal authority   Jorge Quijano reported that the Canal’s capacity has almost reached its limit and is now at 95%. There is some slack at night because there has not been a significant growth in smaller vessels that pass through after dark.

The Panama Canal master plan is in effect, meaning that at any time of day can route traffic reaching full capacity, while there is space left overnight.

With the expansion of the Panama Canal, larger ships, which can carry three times the load of the current panamax vessels will be moving through, and it is estimated that the log jams will be over.

According to the schedule the expanded locks will be operating in April 2016.

Although the capacity of the third set of locks will allow the passage of ships up to 13,000 TEUs or 200 units each 20 feet long, it is expected to start with smaller boats while transit crews adapt to the operations.

Unlike the existing locks, the new system will not use locomotives to move vessels, but a tug inside the chamber will propel ships. This requires practice to maneuver inside the lock during transit.

There will be training spent in simulators before commencing operations and before management contracts are issued.