By - Aaditi Rammohan
Flourishing trade, globalization and growing demands require countries to strengthen their trade routes, whether land, air or water. Waterways being an ancient yet steadfast way to transport goods globally have started to become busier as trade markets flourish. To cater these growing need engineers adopted the idea of The Panama Canal that saves cargo ships or freighters the need to sail along the hazardous routes around South America which would initially take two months to cover 13,000 miles. Despite being built in the 1900s, The Panama Canal still manages to serve a quicker straight passage through the narrow isthmus of Panama in Central America. It welcomes vessels of all kind to reach the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean or vice versa.
The initial attempt to build the canal was by Ferdinand de Lesseps, who was supported by French capital with numerous small investors. Unfortunately, due to unfavourable conditions, from a tropical climate, diseases to unstable topography, took a toll on numerous engineers that diligently spent their lives to dig the canal despite the increase in death tolls due to incurable diseases. As the public lost faith due to rising production cost with slow development, the French had to hand over their project to the Americans as the only hope to overcome debts from investors. In total, the Panama Canal needed 40,000 engineers to provide it with the framework within ten years.
The innovative idea charted by John Frank Stevens, a civil engineer, functions using a series of lock gates placed at intervals on either side of the Panama Canal. After the success of Egypt’s Suez Canal in 1869, Americans needed a shortcut to strengthen its waterway trade route by connecting the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. This status quo came the 50-mile artificial, $375 million, waterway into view which in comparison had accomplished in splitting the continents in half making it all the more ingenious. The Panama Canal stretches from Limone Bay on the Atlantic Ocean to the opposite Bay of Panama situated in the Pacific Ocean. Initially controlled by the United States from 1914 to 1979 solely, it is now under the control of the Panama Canal Commission a joint agency of the United States and the Republic of Panama on December 31st 1999.
Physical Features
Lock gates play a vital role by lifting the vessel 26 meters above the mean sea level due to the landmass being higher in altitude; the ship then drops down back to the mean sea level as it exits using the other gate. Running south from the entrance at Colon on the Atlantic side then passing through the Gatun Locks the Panama Canal then continues sharply turning east ways with a smooth course southeastward reaching the Bay of Panama on the Pacific Side.
The terminus near Balboa is around 40 km east of its terminus near Colon. Vessels also pass through the second part of the Pedro Miguel Locks at Miraflores which lower these ships as per mean sea level. The canal’s minimum bottom width is around 150 meters with variation up to 300 meters near the Gatun Locks and up to 225 meters in the Pedro Miguel Locks.
The canal locks consist with the utmost precision of uniform dimensions in length, width and depth in pairs to allows vessels to travel in both directions. The locks are 20 meters wide, 2 meters thick of concrete with hinges that allow ships to continue their journey while also focusing on the gravity flow of water from nearby lakes. The gates reach a height of 14 to 25 meters with supported movement from electric motors settled in the concrete block walls. The control tower tracks the flooding or emptying of lock chambers which measure up to 300 by 33 meters with a depth of 12 meters.
To provide further precautions for humungous vessels, the Canal uses electric towing locomotives to keep ships centred throughout its journey. A fender chain makes sure the vessel travels at a safe speed, and if it does so, the chain will be dropped into its groove at the bottom of the channel through every locked gate. The chain ensures safety by using its hydraulic machinery to bring the vessel to a stop if required. In order to protect the harbour against severe windstorms and siltings, long breakwaters have been constructed near slant cannels and also extend from the west to east banks of Limone Bay.
The Gate Lock Mechanisms
The water lock system consists of a total of 3 sets of locks throughout the canal. The pacific side includes the double-chambered Miraflores Locks along with the single-chambered Pedro Miguel Locks, on the other hand, the Atlantic side holds the triple chambered Gatun Locks.
To maintain safety constraints along the Culebra Cut, the maximum number of massive locks used are six for transits. The entire operation for the Panama Water lock System starts with the vessel approaching the lowest chamber of the locks either side on the Gatun or Miraflores locks. Due to the force of gravity from the higher chamber when valves of the first chamber are opened, water flows to the lowest one causing the water level to rise to the sea level. The ship is then allowed to proceed to the next chamber when water levels have equalized between the current and the next chamber. This happens using the lock gates, which are carefully operated and controlled. This cycle repeats until the vessel has finally exited the 50-mile canal in just 10 hours at most! The whole procedure of raising and lower water levels from chamber to chamber terminates without the need for pumps.
The principal of gravity creates a force large enough to transfer 98 million litres of water into the chamber below where the vessel is waiting. Around 100 valves, when opened, shoot out water which takes less than 8 minutes to equalize with the same level as the chamber the vessel is about to enter next. This idea of the system is now more than 100 years old but still manages to transport The Norwegian Bliss which is 92 meters longer and 178,954 tonnes heavier than The Titanic.
The marine traffic control system updates, monitors and inspects documents as well as manifests before a ship is allowed to use the Canal. Such a process is to verify carrying capacity to make sure the Canal can accommodate the vessel and provide the required no of electric towing locomotives or even pilots.
The organization would have to send these documents and negotiate a schedule before 25 hours of the vessel arriving. The Canal saves around 15,000 km and only takes 10 hours to reach the other end, therefore, saving human effort. Despite heavy rainfalls, the schedule is followed systematically with two or more vessels moving in similar directions as per their size to avoid loss or imbalance of large quantities of water with each transit and conserve water.
Since the construction of the Canal, the Panama Canal Authorities are cautious during heavy rainfall or tropical climatic conditions. This is mainly due to the unstable soils and possibilities of landslides in the hills connecting Gaillard Cut. Continual maintenance, precautionary measures in addition to efficient scheduling, is what helps to prevent damage of any kind. Maintenance focuses on dredging channels, regular refurbishments of lock gates while also repairing or replacing mechanisms and machinery.
The Problem - the Canal Traffic
The original infrastructure found it challenging to accommodate a copious number of bulk ships and containers which wanted to use the Canal’s services. Such limitations started causing delays despite the Panama Canal Authorities operating 24/7. As demands grew, the Canal had to incorporate new refurbishments or increase its capacity; otherwise, it would start losing customers to its competitors like the Suez Canal. The only way to relieve congestion as well as tend to grow demands was an expansion.
The Solutions - Expansion
The new advanced technology focused on experienced designing to conserve water by using three water-saving basins connected to both new and existing lock gates with chambers. Gravity equalizes the water level in the current and next chamber using upgraded main culvert valves. Collectedly the three water-saving basins hold around 60% of this water volume until each following lock chamber water level has equalized. This way, 40% of the water volume flows out into Gatun Lake. After the anticipated expansion program from 2009 to 2016, the Canal had a third set of locks called the Agua, Cocoli and Clara Locks for the transit of Neopanamax containers. This decision proved to be a success as it not only did doubled the Canal’s capacity but also adopted environmental leadership in the maritime industry. It includes adding a system of water-saving basins and associated valves that controlled water flow even more efficiently during rainy conditions. Around 18 basins with the surface area of 25 Olympic-sized pools support the six locks in total, both new and old.
The project was led by Bosch Rexroth and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries; specialized on installing culvert, conduit, equalizing valves appurtenant structures. Bosch Rexroth also supplied all the operating machinery for the valves as well as custom-designed hydraulic power units. To increase reliability in operation during all times the electronic control system was updated as well as added with sensors and backups contributing to 99.9% steadfastness.
This water conservation technology allows the canal to reuse 60% of the water volume by collectively storing them in three water-saving basins attached to both new and existing lock gates with chambers.
The inlet of water is controlled by the three-lift lock and culvert valves that control water flow from the basins to the chambers using the principal of gravity similar to the lock gate mechanism.
Additionally, redundant closure system consisting of eight rolling gates are present which promise equalization of water that allows ships to alleviate and lower so that water is used efficiently. At the same time, the rest of the 40% flows back out into the Gatun Lake.
The expansion eliminated the need to construct any additional reservoir storage as water usage per lock chamber decreased by 7%. The Gatun Dam integrates a hydro-electric generating station situated east-side to the spillway discharge channel. They use water from the Gatun Lake to generate clean, renewable hydroelectricity using three generators producing a total of 6 megawatts of electricity which in turn, is used to operate The Panama Canal’s lock mechanism as well as equipment.
Such a mechanism ensures that water provided by Gatun Lake is used effectively as it supports not only international trade and transportation but also indigenous lifestyle and heritage.
Equipment reliability has also been increased till all systems have a redundant operation; An example is the presence of 4 valves in each basin; however, only two valves are needed to empty them. This way, the system will still keep working if two valves fail without any hindrance or delay to the canal’s customers.
In conclusion, the Panama Canal lives up to the expectations of its marvellous engineering design of the 1900s, continuing to accommodate the growing needs of the 21st century. The overall system is efficient, reliable, yet nearly simple as well as environmentally friendly.
Reference:
https://www.circleofblue.org/2015/world/panama-canal-expansion-will-big-effect-energy-water-grain-u-s-china/
https://www.circleofblue.org/2015/world/panamas-hydropower-development-defined-fierce-resistance-toughchoices/
https://micanaldepanama.com/expansion/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Panama-Canal
https://wpeus2sat01.blob.core.windows.net/micanaldev/planmaestro/0051-03.pdf https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/an-expanded-panama-canal-opens-for-giantships/2016/06/26/11a93574-37d1-11e6-af02-1df55f0c77ff_story.html https://www.dcvelocity.com/articles/30335-has-the-panama-canal-expansion-changedanything#:~:text=The%20Panama%20Canal%20expansion%20was,large%20for%20the%20original%20infrastructure. &text=A%20massive%20excavation%20created%20a,essentially%20doubling%20the%20canal's%20capacity. https://mfame.guru/hydraulic-engineering-involved-panama-canal/ https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/09/panama-canal-works.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzaXjHaMRQA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgsxapE27NU
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