Accidents, Incidents, and Safety Policy on the Panama Canal (1914–present)

1. Panama Canal opens to commercial traffic

   Aug 15, 1914Labels: Panama Canal, Locks, Navigation Corridor

   • Panama Museum
   • Britannica

2. Gold Hill slide briefly closes the canal

   Oct 14, 1914Labels: Gold Hill, Culebra Cut, Landslide

   • Linda Hall

3. Major Culebra Cut slide forces long closure

   Sep 18, 1915Labels: Culebra Cut, Landslide, Canal Closure

   • Linda Hall
   • Florida Museum

4. National Academy of Sciences committee investigates slides

   Dec 1, 1915Labels: National Academy, Woodrow Wilson, Landslide Study

   • NAP Report
   • Nature

5. USS O-5 sinks after collision near canal

   Oct 28, 1923Labels: USS O-5, United Fruit, Collision

   • Justia Case
   • CIMSEC

6. Mid-1930s program begins widening Gaillard Cut

   Jan 1, 1935Labels: Gaillard Cut, Channel Widening, Navigation Safety

   • PIANC Abstract

7. Canal Commission institutes Landslide Control Program

   Jan 1, 1968Labels: Panama Canal, Landslide Control, Surveillance Program

   • PIANC LCP
   • Linda Hall

8. Gaillard Cut widening program completes (300 to 492 feet)

   Jan 1, 1971Labels: Gaillard Cut, Channel Widening, Safe Transits

   • Britannica

9. Cucaracha Reach slide causes brief canal closure

   Oct 13, 1986Labels: Cucaracha Reach, Culebra Cut, Landslide

   • El Faro
   • Linda Hall

10. ACP begins major Gaillard Cut expansion program

    Jan 1, 1991Labels: Panama Canal, Gaillard Cut, Expansion Program

    • Britannica

11. Panama assumes full operational control (ACP takeover)

    Dec 31, 1999Labels: Panama Canal, Torrijos Carter, Operational Control

    • History com
    • ACP Overview

12. ACP implements electronic vessel data collection for security risk checks

    Apr 1, 2004Labels: Automated Data, Panama Canal, Vessel Data

    • MarineLink

13. Expanded canal (Neopanamax locks) opens with tug-assisted procedures

    Jun 26, 2016Labels: Neopanamax Locks, Tugboats, Lock Procedures

    • ENR
    • Guardian

14. Drought-driven operating limits reshape safety and reliability planning

    Oct 1, 2023Labels: Drought Limits, Water Management, Operational Constraints

    • ACP Update
    • AP Interview