Editing Panama Canal (section)

===Efficiency and maintenance===
Opponents to the 1977 [[Torrijos-Carter Treaties]] feared that efficiency and maintenance would suffer following the US withdrawal from the Panama Canal Zone; however, this has been proven not to be the case. In 2004, it was reported that canal operations, capitalizing on practices developed during the American administration, were improving under Panamanian control.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/panama.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913044023/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/panama.html |archive-date=13 September 2012 |title=Panama Rises |journal=Smithsonian Magazine |date=March 2004 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |first=Bob |last=Cullen |access-date=30 April 2012 }}</ref> Canal Waters Time (CWT), the average time it takes a vessel to navigate the canal, including waiting time, is a key measure of efficiency; in the first decade of the 2000s, it ranged between 20 and 30 hours, according to the ACP. The accident rate has also not changed appreciably in the past decade, varying between 10 and 30 accidents each year from about 14,000 total annual transits.<ref name=annualreport2005>{{cite web |url=http://www.pancanal.com/common/general/reports/informe-anual-2005.pdf |title=ACP 2005 Annual Report |publisher=Panama Canal Authority |year=2005 |access-date=9 July 2010 |archive-date=6 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506181207/http://www.pancanal.com/common/general/reports/informe-anual-2005.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=metrics2008>{{Cite news |url=http://www.pancanal.com/eng/pr/press-releases/2008/10/24/pr300.html |title=News{{snd}}PanCanal.com; Panama Canal Authority Announces Fiscal Year 2008 Metrics |publisher=Panama Canal Authority |date=24 October 2008 |access-date=9 July 2010 |archive-date=7 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507150245/http://www.pancanal.com/eng/pr/press-releases/2008/10/24/pr300.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=metrics2009>{{Cite news |url=http://www.pancanal.com/eng/pr/press-releases/2009/10/30/pr366.html |title=News{{snd}}PanCanal.com; Panama Canal Authority Announces Fiscal Year 2009 Metrics |publisher=Panama Canal Authority |date=30 October 2009 |access-date=9 July 2010 |archive-date=11 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611095934/http://www.pancanal.com/eng/pr/press-releases/2009/10/30/pr366.html |url-status=live }}</ref> An official accident is one in which a formal investigation is requested and conducted.

Increasing volumes of imports from Asia, which previously landed on US West Coast ports, are now passing through the canal to the American East Coast.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.colliers.com/Content/Attachments/Corporate/Services/NewYorkTimes112204.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050307191412/http://colliers.com/Content/Attachments/Corporate/Services/NewYorkTimes112204.htm |archive-date=7 March 2005 |title=New York Port Hums Again, With Asian Trade |first=Eric |last=Lipton |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=22 November 2004 }}</ref> In 2007, the total number of ocean-going transits increased from 11,725 in 2003 to 13,233, falling to 12,855 in 2009. The canal's fiscal year runs from October to September.<ref name="annualreport2009">{{cite web |url=http://www.pancanal.com/eng/general/reporte-anual/2009/pdf/InformePDFingles.pdf |title=ACP 2009 Annual Report |publisher=Panama Canal Authority |year=2009 |access-date=9 July 2010 |archive-date=3 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103054620/http://www.pancanal.com/eng/general/reporte-anual/2009/pdf/InformePDFingles.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> This has been coupled with a steady rise in average ship size and in the numbers of Panamax vessels passing through the canal. The total tonnage carried rose from 227.9 million [[tonnage|PC/UMS tons]] in fiscal year 1999 to a then record high of 312.9 million tons in 2007, and falling to 299.1 million tons in 2009.<ref name="acptraffic" /><ref name="annualreport2009" /> Tonnage for fiscal 2013, 2014 and 2015 was 320.6, 326.8 and 340.8 million PC/UMS tons, carried on 13,660, 13,481 and 13,874 transits respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pancanal.com/eng/op/transit-stats/2015/Table01.pdf |title=Panama Canal Traffic{{snd}}Fiscal Years 2013 through 2015 |publisher=Panama Canal Authority |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719152021/http://www.pancanal.com/eng/op/transit-stats/2015/Table01.pdf |archive-date=19 July 2016 }}</ref>
[[File:Gatun locks showing the "mule" locomotives at work.jpg|thumb|Gatun locks showing the [[Panama Canal locks#Mules|"mule" locomotives]] at work]]
[[File:Mule in the Miraflores Locks.JPG|thumb|''Mule'' in the Miraflores Locks]]

In the first decade after the transfer to Panamanian control, the [[Panama Canal Authority]] (ACP) invested nearly US$1 billion in widening and modernizing the canal, with the aim of increasing capacity by 20 percent.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/panama.canal/stories/operation/ |title=Transfer heavy on symbolism, light on change |first=Steve |last=Nettleton |publisher=CNN Interactive |year=2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218155312/http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/panama.canal/stories/operation/ |archive-date=18 December 2008 }}</ref> The ACP cites a number of major improvements, including the widening and straightening of the Culebra Cut to reduce restrictions on passing vessels, the deepening of the navigational channel in Gatun Lake to reduce draft restrictions and improve water supply, and the deepening of the Atlantic and Pacific entrances to the canal.<ref>{{cite web |title=9 Facts about the Panama Canal Expansion – Infographic |url=http://www.mercatrade.com/blog/9-facts-about-the-panama-canal-expansion/ |publisher=Mercatrade |access-date=28 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020083517/http://www.mercatrade.com/blog/9-facts-about-the-panama-canal-expansion/ |archive-date=20 October 2014 }}</ref>

This is supported by new equipment, such as a new drill barge and suction dredger, and an increase of the [[Tugboat|tug boat]] fleet by 20 percent. Improvements have been made to the canal's operating machinery, including an increased and improved tug locomotive fleet, the replacement of more than {{cvt|16|km|0}} of locomotive track, and new lock machinery controls. Improvements have been made to the traffic management system to allow more efficient control over ships in the canal.<ref>{{cite web |title=9 Facts about the Panama Canal Expansion – Infographic |url=http://www.mercatrade.com/blog/9-facts-about-the-panama-canal-expansion/ |publisher=Mercatrade |access-date=28 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020083517/http://www.mercatrade.com/blog/9-facts-about-the-panama-canal-expansion/ |archive-date=20 October 2014 }}</ref>

In December 2010, record-breaking rains caused a 17-hour closure of the canal. This was the first closure since the [[US invasion of Panama]] in 1989.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11953800 |access-date=13 December 2010 |title=Panama Canal reopens after temporary closure |work=BBC News |date=9 December 2010 |archive-date=17 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017113304/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11953800 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5izSSaRRPlqlKrEgImAAMgZtqhsdw?docId=N0087151292030740345A |access-date=12 December 2010 |title=The Press Association: Panama flooding displaces thousands |date=12 December 2010}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic }}</ref> The rains also caused an access road to the Centenario Bridge to collapse.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://laestrella.com.pa/mensual/2010/12/12/contenido/18225705.asp |access-date=13 December 2010 |title=NOTICIAS PANAMÁ{{snd}}PERIÓDICO LA ESTRELLA ONLINE: Gobierno abrirá parcialmente Puente Centenario; Corredores serán gratis [Al Minuto] |date=13 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216063033/http://www.laestrella.com.pa/mensual/2010/12/12/contenido/18225705.asp |archive-date=16 December 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=151684 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501024710/http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=151684 |archive-date=1 May 2013 |access-date=8 July 2012 |title=Rain Causes Panama Canal Bridge To Collapse |publisher=digtriad.com |date=12 December 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.cri.cn/6966/2010/12/11/2021s609648.htm |access-date=13 December 2010 |title=Entrance to Panama Canal Bridge Closed due to Rain Damage |date=13 December 2010 |archive-date=15 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215200209/http://english.cri.cn/6966/2010/12/11/2021s609648.htm }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newsroompanama.com/panama/2073-aftermath-of-panama-flooding-hits-transport-and-finances-rain-continues.html |access-date=13 December 2010 |title=Aftermath of Panama flooding hits transport and finances{{snd}}rain continues |date=13 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216060538/http://www.newsroompanama.com/panama/2073-aftermath-of-panama-flooding-hits-transport-and-finances-rain-continues.html |archive-date=16 December 2010 }}</ref>