96024 Berthing Problem Tugs Not Ready

 Panama Canal (1)

Report No. 96024

I sail on a Panamax bulk carrier and frequently have to use the Panama Canal.In the past 20 years, the margin of safety for transiting this class ofvessel has substantially decreased. There is a decrease in the number ofpilots handling the vessel and tugs are frequently unavailable when needed.This can be particularly critical during our transit to the Pacific at maximumdraft.
In the approach to the Gatun Locks, the channel is less than four mileslong and about 150 feet wide. Pilots are often instructed to enter the channeland pass the "point of no return" without being told that thetugs will not be available in time. On one occasion, after we had enteredthe channel, we were told that we would have to wait one hour for tugs.

This ship has a large propeller, makes 6.5 knots at "dead slow ahead"and the wind in this area often exerts a force on the port quarter accommodationblock which makes steering very difficult when the engine is stopped. WhenI complained bitterly to the pilot, he explained that this is becoming acommon occurrence and after a lot of insistence we obtained a tug aftera wait of 45 minutes. The reader will no doubt understand the high riskof grounding under such circumstances. This happened to a tanker the daybefore one of our previous transits, the rocky bottom pierced the hull andthe whole area was badly polluted by oil.

The whole situation could have been avoided by better planning the entranceof the vessel into the channel, this is however not possible without theco-operation of the VTM. A sufficient number of tugs should be made availablealong the canal at strategic places to assist large vessels regardless ofthe traffic situation and delays. Similar situations to that described abovealso occur at times along Gamboa Reach prior to entering the Gaillard Cutwhere a large vessel must have a tug in attendance to allow for adjustingthe arrival off Pedro Miguel Locks.