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July 2011www.sname.org/sname/mt (historical note )T he current Panama Canal expansion project is not the rst time that expansion by adding another set of larger locks has been considered. Before World War Two, the U.S. government and the Panama Canal Company (PCC) were mainly concerned about security, specically the risk that the canal could be shut down by an attack on the original 1914 side-by-side locks at Miraores, Pedro Miguel, or Gatun. Military planners saw the need for a larger, third set of locks running parallel to the existing locks, to pro- vide a transit alternative in the event of an attack and to accommodate the growing gross characteristics of bat- tleships and aircraft carriers. In contrast to the current expansion of the Panama Canal, commercial trac was much less of a consider- ation compared to the security issues of the canal. In 1934, the governor of the Panama Canal Zone estimated that the existing canal could move about three times the actual cargo moved in the previous year if it were oper- ated on a 24-hour basis. However, authorities estimated that an increase in capacity would only be needed in the next 10 to 12 years. While there were passenger liners in the 1930s that, due to their dimensions, could not pass through the canal, cargo ship trac was not restricted to any signicant degree by the size of the locks. Growing political instability and saber rattling in Europe in the mid-1930s provided the impetus for the U.S. Congress to authorize a study of a third set of locks, as well as improved defense systems for the existing canal. But, while Congress was willing to authorize the work, delays in funding and lags in the appropriation gave way to bureaucracy, resulting in the formation of a Special Engineering Section by the PCC more than a year later, which would be in charge of the studies. Headed by Edward S. Randolph, the Special Engineering Section produced a report for Congress over a period of 18 months, recommending improved protection for the existing locks and the construction of a third set of larger locks. Congress nally authorized the work in 1939, but with Germanys invasion of Poland, the appropriation process was again slow to provide funds to move forward. On June 24, 1940, Congress ultimately appropriated $115 million of the $277 million estimated for completion of both the new locks and the defense improvements for the existing locks, and approved the letting of contracts to an amount not exceeding $99 million. World War Two Expansion Work begun in 1940 provides a roadmap for todays Panama Canal expansion BY JAY CARSON | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 5/1/36 Congress authorizes study 2/24/39 PCC Report to Congress recommends third locks 7/1/37 PCC forms special engineering section to conduct study 8/11/39 Congress authorizes work9/1/39 Start of WWII, Germany invades Poland 6/24/40 Congress appropriates funds Work halted mid-1943 / EXCAVATION / 6/41 European Axis invades Soviet Union 12/7/41 Japan attacks USA at Pearl Harbor 7/7/42 USA stops Axis in Paci?c, Battle of Midway 5/8/45 War in Europe ends, capture of Berlin 8/15/45 War in Asia ends, Japan agrees to surrender Data source for Third Locks Project: www.czbrats.com