Quicker lock passage, fewer accidents

Passage through the Panama Canal, one of the world’s most famous waterways, has become quicker and safer. 74 LMS units detect ships approaching the locks; the special Boat Detection Software does the rest.

>> About 14,000 ships, with a maximum length of 294.1 m, pass through the Panama Canal each year. They have to negotiate three lock systems (Miraflores, Pedro Miquel and Gatún) as they travel the 80 km “overland”. Thus, theoretically, there is a ship every two kilometres. This involves round-the-clock operation of the locks – ships enter or leave them almost without pause. In view of the ever-increasing density of traffic, after the USA ceded control of the canal to Panama in 2000 the Panamanian authorities soon decided that modernisation was required.

Reliable boat detection required

Two of the main aims were: preventing collisions between ships and locks, and optimisation of the lock process itself. This, however, depended on finding a way to reliably detect ships in the lock areas. The infrared sensors that used to be employed couldn’t meet these demands – for a variety of constructional and process-related reasons. The project reached SICK Spain via Doger Technology, who had provided equipment for the Panama Canal over many years. “We, in turn, remembered that our colleagues at SICK France already had a complete Boat Detection Software available”, reports Jaume Catalán Gimeno. “We thus had everything we needed: the LMS 211 with the LMI evaluation unit (as a sensor system that had already been tried and tested in port applications), and
software that allows the lock control system to understand the measured values provided.”

Installation during running lock operation

Up to 28 people were involved in planning and completing the project over a period of 8 months. After an initial prototype installation, all three lock systems were equipped one after another. “We had to be both quick and flexible, as there were sometimes only a few minutes available for carrying out the individual mounting steps between the individual ship passages. Then one had to wait for the next ship to go through”, remembers Project Manager Roger Flores. “It was an enormous relief when everything was finally installed, the software was running and the control system and display was operating as desired.” The safety of the lock gates and the ships has been significantly improved – a performance for which the clients were pleased to raise their Panama hats.

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