Canal development plan is starting to emerge in the 16th century but only managed to be realized on August 15, 1914. Although construction is plagued with problems such as malaria, yellow fever, landslides, and water shortages, the canal was finally established and has helped hundreds of thousands of ships crossing since the opening, or an average of 12,000 ships per year.
History of Development
The idea of building the Panama Canal was first coined in 1524 by then king of Spain, Charles V. King believes if the isthmus at Panama cleaved it will ease travel royal ships sailing from Ecuador to Peru or vice versa. In the following years, a number of other kingdoms in Europe also expressed the same idea but still hit the technology and resource constraints.
Physical construction of new canal finally managed to start on January 1, 1880. At that time the French Government which was inspired from the success of his engineers, Ferdinand de Lesseps, who had founded the Suez Canal on the African continent, decided to start this project mahasulit. Construction of the canal directly entrusted to the de Lesseps. Unfortunately, as it seemed in a hurry and did not conduct geological and hydrological studies are adequate, the project began to consume a lot of lives and money. Outbreaks of malaria and yellow fever broke out and a large number of workers affected and even death (there were approximately 22,000 people) so the project began to neglect. Equipment made of iron and steel began to rust, some workers raised their hands and return to his country.
Seeing this condition, the French government in 1893 decided to suspend this project. Subsequently in 1898, France lobbied the United States (U.S.) to continue the project. In 1902, the U.S. Senate approved the takeover of this project. In 1904, the U.S. president that time, Theodore Roosevelt, decided to buy the remnants of project equipment from France and continued development of the canal. However, this is done the U.S. after successfully freeing Panama from Colombia. As compensation, the Government of Panama gave the U.S. rights to the canal management.
Construction of the Panama Canal was resumed again! This time through proper preparation and provision of adequate infrastructure. President Theodore Roosevelt appointed George Washington Goethals as project leaders. Old equipment is gradually replaced with new, more sophisticated equipment. In 1914, the Panama Canal project was successfully completed. Two years earlier than the target set on June 1, 1916. Panama Canal finally opened officially on August 15, 1914 which coincided with World War I began in Europe and the first ships that pass was a cargo ship named, Ancon.
In 1930, the Panama Canal enhanced with the creation of artificial lakes as a water reservoir which opened if there was a ship that would pass. It also made some floodgates. After World War II, the people of Panama began to demand the right to manage and otherwise protest the U.S. military presence is becoming more and more. Finally on September 7, 1977, U.S. President, Jimmy Carter and Panamanian President Omar Torrijos signed an agreement that allowed Panama to manage its own canal while still ensuring the neutrality of the region (Neutrality Treaty) and the U.S. were allowed to return anytime. However, the deal was criticized by most Americans. Subsequently, on December 31, 1999, the management handed over entirely to the Panama canal through Panama Canal Authority / Panama Canal Authority (ACP).
Before this handover, the government of Panama has held an international tender for a 25-year container port operation contract which was won by the firm Hutchison Whampoa, a Hong Kong based company owned by tycoon Li Ka Shing who also will embed its stake in Facebook.
Operation Method
Unlike the Suez Canal, the Panama Canal relies on a number of sluice gates and several artificial lakes. From the Bay of Limon in the Atlantic Ocean, the ship enters Gatun Locks sluice gates that lift the boat as high as 26 meters above sea level. A number of small electric locomotive lead or push the ship through the doors of the water. Small boats off the engine and driven, while the big ship is guided but still moves with its own strengths. Giant sluice gates of steel in the rear of the ship was closed and the water in front of the door is opened to drain the water slowly from Lake Gatun. There are three sluice gates to be passed, which raises the ship until it is parallel to the surface of the lake.
The ship then get away from the locomotive power and sail across the lake made it as far as 22 miles or 35 kilometers. This artificial lake was originally a valley of the Chagres River dammed to build a giant Gatun dam. Arriving at the southeastern tip of the ship enters Gatun Lake Gaillard trajectory (gill-yard) whose length is 13 kilometers, a width of 150 meters and a minimum depth of 13 meters. At the end of the ship re-entered the track Gaillard sluice which is also equipped locomotives driving. The first sluice Pedro Miguel Locks lowers the ship 9 yards to the Miraflores lake surface. From here the ship then sailed across the Miraflores lake as far as two and a half miles to the gate or the Miraflores Locks Miraflores. Here are two doors down the vessel of water until it is parallel to the surface of the Pacific Ocean. And from here the ship sailed into the Gulf of Panama and then out into the Pacific Ocean.
Measured from the Bay of Limon in the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Panama in the Pacific Ocean this canal has a length of approximately 82 kilometers to the long voyage around 8 hours. On average there are 12,000 ships cross the canal each year, or about 33 ships a day. But because of the narrow, the canal can not be skipped aircraft carriers and giant tankers. Therefore ships can pass Panama canal called Panamaz ships.
Fare / tariff through the canal
Canal authorities set tariffs to cross the Panama Canal by ship type, size, and what is loaded in a cargo ship. In 2007, the Authority has set a new tariff and the Disney Cruise Line ship from the U.S. in the year 2008 recorded a record as the most expensive fare payers ie amounting to USD 331,200.
Challenges Ahead
Panama Canal to face some fierce competition from such service inter-oceanic railroad across the United States and Mexico, and Nicaragua's neighbors plan to also build the canal. Looking at these challenges the Government of Panama in 2006 and then held a referendum to expand the canal. Fortunately, the referendum was approved by approximately 80% of the people of Panama. In concrete, the expansion of the Panama canal will be coupled with the construction of two water gates extra wide, at the beginning and end of the canal. Panama Canal will also be expanded and deepened in some places. This project will take at least eight years and cost more than $ 5 billion. Panama itself will provide around half the cost that could be taken from the pockets of the Panama Canal Authority in 2007 earned revenues of approximately USD 1.76 billion. The rest is taken from international loans.
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