Consultants say expanded Panama Canal fraught with safety risks that could undermine economic benefi

Risk management consultants PGI Intelligence have compiled a report on the Panama Canal’s new locks that says safety concerns resulting from the $5.3bn expansion project could lead to accidents that offset the economic benefits.

The Canal’s new locks, inaugurated on June 26 and in commercial operation since June 27, allow the trans-oceanic waterway to handle the gigantic neo-panamax container vessels.

But PGI’s report says that the locks are 427m long and 55m wide, while neo-panamaxes reach 366m and 49m in the same categories. That leaves just 6m width and 61m length of wriggle room and tugboats will be used on both ends of these ships to get them through the locks.

http://splash247.com/consultants-say-expanded-panama-canal-fraught-safety-risks-undermine-economic-benefits/