Principal commodities transported The Panama Canal as a route for United States traffic Panama Canal at entrance to Miraflores Lake Anchorage area and entrance channel at Atlantic entrance Anchorage area and entrance channel at Pacific entrance Piers Nos. 6, 7, and 8, Cristobal General view of Cristobal terminals Interior of shed on Pier No. 18, Balboa Floating crane "Hercules" at Gatun Locks 1. There is transmitted herewith a revised report on the Panama Canal and its ports, prepared by the Board in furtherance of the objects entrusted to the War Department by section 500 of the Transportation Act of 1920. 2. The present report is published as No. 40 of the Port Series and supersedes Port Series No. 22, published in 1938. The information contained in this report relative to the Canal and its two important terminals was made available to this office largely through the courtesy of the Governor of the Panama Canal. The report was compiled in this office under the supervision of Mr. Warren E. Graves, chief statistician, and was then reviewed by the Governor of the Panama Canal. 3. On account of the value of the information contained in this report to commerce and shipping, and to the successful operation of the merchant marine, it is recommended that it be published, with the accompanying illustrations. FOR THE BOARD: W. MOORE Mary. Colonel, Corps of Engineers то: OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS 11 September 1946 The Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, Washington, D. C. Approved. BBA Theeler R. A. WHEELER INTRODUCTION This report on The Panama Canal and its Ports, published as No. 40 of the Port Series, supersedes Port Series No. 22, issued in 1938. The reports of the Port Series cover the principal ports of the United States and are prepared to meet the needs of the War Department in its study and development of harbors and it encouragement of port facilities and to furnish information needed by commercial and shipping interests in the promotion and expansion of trade. The Panama Canal is a route from one ocean to the other, some 10,000 nautical miles shorter than the distance around South American, through which vessels may, with a maximum of safety and a minimum of delay, transport the cargo offered. The ports of Cristobal and Balboa are adjuncts of the Canal and their functions are different in many respects from the functions of ports in continental United States. They provide facilities for bunkering end repair of vessels transiting the Canal, for the unloading and reloading of cargoes transshipped from one vessel to another, and for the receipt of supplies and provisions for the maintenance of the Canal or for use by Canal personnel. While this report necessarily differs somewhat in scope and outline from others in the Port Series, it is believed that shipping interests, importers, exporters, and others having occasion to use the route either for through business or for cargo to be transshipped at the Canal terminals will find it a convenient source of reference. The report contains information relative to the Canal and its traffic, the rules, regulations, and charges governing transit of the Canal, and the facilities available, the services offered, and the charges assessed at the two terminal ports. Much of the information for the report was obtained from current tariffs and publications of The Panama Canal, which also supplied data regarding the facilities at the ports. The final report has been reviewed by the Governor, The Panama Canal. |