One of the most important events in maritime history was remembered this year at a gala marking the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal.
A grand ceremony at the Canal’s Miraflores lock commemorated the passing of the steamer Ancón through the Panama Canal on August 15, 1914. Kicking off the centenary celebration, the Greek vessel Galini led the several dozen ships that passed through the busy canal during the first day of the canal’s second century. Dignitaries and guests enjoyed a 13-foot-long chocolate cake shaped to resemble the complex lock system, while performers of all sorts provided entertainment, including traditional Panamanian dances and a theatrical production depicting the waterway’s turbulent history.
Several other events have taken place throughout Panama to recognize the influential canal’s 100th birthday. A number of commemorative books were published, and a traveling interactive exhibit entitled “Centennial Experience of the Canal” visited nine provinces in the country. The three-day Ocean to Ocean race saw competitors paddle their way through the 49-mile canal from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. Even a new, limited-edition fragrance was released: “Canal,” the first-ever Panamanian brand of perfume, is said to evoke the entrepreneurial character of the canal’s long history.
The importance of the Panama Canal cannot be overstated. A true marvel of engineering at the time it was built, it dramatically decreased the time, fuel, and risk required for ships to take cargo and passengers between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. As other canals have opened elsewhere in the world over the last century, the Panama Canal’s influence has declined somewhat. Nonetheless, roughly five percent of the world’s maritime trade still passes through it, and that number is set to grow in coming decades as Panama works to add a new set of modernized locks. The expansion will triple the waterway’s capacity, and allow super-sized “Post-Panamax” ships to use the Panama Canal. The expansion will ensure that the historic waterway continues to remain relevant throughout the 21st century.
