Panama News

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Some people who were there informed me of this incident. They write: "MARCH 16, 2008INCIDENT AT ACP DIABLO DOCK, TUG CACIQUE AND YACHT MOLOKAI - The yacht MOLOKAI had been designated the official timing and finish line vessel for the 2008 Ocean to Ocean Panama Canal Cayuco Race. The party of race officials and timers was boarded from the ACP dock at Diablo astern of the crane boat ATLAS at around 1330 and then the MOLOKAI proceeded to the finish line area and anchored to perform its duty as a finish line mark. At the finish of the race the timers and officials completed their work and then the MOLOKAI proceeded to the ACP dock to debark. At 1745, having just made fast to the dock, the MOLOKAI was debarking the officials and the APC tug CACIQUE came around the end of the dock from the Canal and proceeded to blow it’s whistle apparently to clear MOLOKAI out of the area that the tug operator wanted to tie up to. (more)


In as much and no voice communication was possible between the MOLOKAI and CACIQUE the people in the wheel house of the MOLOKAI signaled that it would be a short time and they would get out of the way. The CACIQUE kept coming and eventually leaned on the side of the MOLOKAI. The people in the wheel house of MOLOKAI showed the official pass to the tug operator and he made some statement that it meant nothing to him. As the officials were attempting to debark, the CACIQUE operator applied side thrust getting his rubber fendering under the flair of the bow of MOLOKAI and caused the boat to lift some 15 degrees or so causing unknown damage to the boat and certainly endangering those people who were trying to reach the dock. Fortunately, there were no injuries to these people, but the trauma of being attacked by this large tug had an effect on all those aboard MOLOKAI and on the dock.


As soon as the officials were safely off the MOLOKAI and it was determined that there was no immediate damage affecting seaworthiness, the boat left the dock and proceeded to the Balboa Yacht Club. The Canal Port Captain was called and the incident reported. Capt. H. Clark came to the Balboa Yacht Club and inspected as best he could in the failing light and he took pictures of the visible damage and rubber marks left by the tug fendering. Canal Authority form 4327 was signed.


It was requested and suggested by the master of MOLOKAI that the operator of CACIQUE be sent immediately to drug testing as is usual following incidents in the Panama Canal. His behavior certainly indicated that he was not behaving in a rational manner.


A request has been made that the Canal Authority determine if any video record is available of this incident and if so to provide owners of MOLOKAI with a copy.


As an added note if interest, the people on board MOLOKAI witnessing this event included 4 retired senior Panama Canal Pilots/Master Mariners, the race coordinator Mr. Pablo Prieto, 8 timing officials, and some guests and family.


Signed: Theodore M Kirkby, Master Mariner, Retired Panama Canal Pilot
ACP Response: I keep pretty good contact with the Panama Canal Authority, and I wanted to get their response before publishing this article. I forwarded the email I received to them, and an ACP spokesman told me "The Panama Canal Authority has always supported the annual Ocean to Ocean Cayuco race for many years and in many ways. The incident you report is a subject of an official and formal investigation. Once the investigation is complete, any disciplinary action, if warranted, will be taken against those involved."
Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

More...