When the widening and deepening of the Panama Canal is completed next year, it will allow significantly larger cargo container ships — known as “Panamax” ships — to pass from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
But representatives of the union representing tugboat pilots working in the canal say one particular stretch known as the Gaillard Cut is not wide enough to safely handle two of the larger ships simultaneously.
And the union’s leaders said he has been kept out of discussions over naviagtion protocols for the widened canal, even though his members will be responsible for ensuring that the larger ships make it through the canal safely.
Rainero Salas, president of the Panama Canal Pilots’ Association, charged the Panama Canal Authority with imposing unsafe navigation procedures (in order to read the linked article you must be signed up with tradewindsnews) without first getting the endorsement of his union, citing the move as “irresponsible” and “reckless”.
But the canal operators said they want to address the union’s concerns during new contract negotiations, something the union says won’t happen until the safety concerns are first addressed.
In the meantime, unless the two sides can reach agreement on safety procedures, the reopening of the new and improved Panama Canal could be delayed or operations could be slowed down to a crawl.
“It’s not a threat,” said Salas. “It’s just a fact. It can only be in the best interest of the canal that we do this carefully.”