What Would Happen if the Panama Canal Became Unusable?

Discover the vital role of the Panama Canal in global trade, the risks threatening its operation, and the potential global crisis if it shuts down. Uncover what this megaproject's collapse could mean for the world.

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[y-not]

I honestly thought at some point Simon would put on the matching Panama hat for the linen suit, I was left disappointed.

[AGnricHuman]

People are asking why they can't recapture the freshwater. Allow me to explain:
The Panama Canal doesn't directly move ships from one ocean to the other. It first moves them to Gatun Lake, which forms 21 miles of the Panama Canal to save on the construction costs of digging that distance. This artificial lake is freshwater and where the water to operate the locks comes from.
The reason much of this water can't be recaptured is because of how locks work. They're basically two sets of watertight doors. One set opens, the ship sails in, the doors close, then water is pumped in or out to raise or lower the ship to the level of the other body of water. Then the opposite set of doors is opened and the ship sails out. Because the ship is always floating, some water must always be present in the lock, and there's no way to prevent this water from escaping when the ship leaves the lock.
In theory it would be possible to pump all the water out from the lock exiting Gatun Lake (turning it into a sort of dry dock) to recapture the fresh water and then filling it with sea water instead. There are two big problems with this. First of all this would require far more pumping and far more time. The second is that, because the water level in the lock will be both above and below sea level at different times, the ocean side set of doors must be able to withstand enormous water pressure in both directions. This doesn't occur in most locks because the water level on one side is always higher than on the other side, and is why the doors on locks meet at an angle: the water pressure helps keep them closed unless the water level on both sides is equal. If the water on either side of the doors can be higher than the other this little engineering trick doesn't work, and it's not easy to build a door that can hold the water back when the pressure can come from either direction.

[djevans]

Simon looks like he just came off the set of Miami Vice, cerca 1985. Lol. Looking good bro!

[EggsOverSleazy]

As a logistics professional, I would freak out and go cry in to a pillow. Even when they reduce daily passages due to drought, we feel it.

[mpersad]

Another superbly researched, produced and narrated piece on a topic of real importance that does not often get discussed. Top video!

[HoundMonkey]

The Miami Vice cosplay is back and we love it!

[smithbilly]

A friend saw this title on my tv and dead face said “They can just use the Suzie Canal, no?” I don’t know what part of that sentence is worse, the fact that he called it the Suzie Canal, or that he thought said Suzie Canal was remotely close to Panama

[php]

The loss of the Panama Canal would not be as devastating as the loss of the Suez Canal. The fact that the majority of cargo ships are now detouring around South Africa has already cost the shipping industry over a trillion dollars in added fuel, cargo insurance and other logistical costs over the course of 6 months. The really strange part is how super quiet Egypt is about the huge loss Suez Canal revenue they are experiencing.

[EGSBiographies-omwb]

As an operation Just Cause vet, this vid was well worth my time to watch and very appreciated.

[gungriffen]

Since everyone is mentioning the Miami Vice look, Don Johnson said he was given a complete traditional suit to wear. Belt, under shirt, button up shirt, tie, jacket, black socks.

But it was July in Miami and said he was fucking dying, so he ditched the tie, belt, socks, button up, and rolled the sleeves on the jacket.

He said he wasnt trying to create a look, he trying not to die outside from Miami 105F heat.

[hene]

It is not only time it saves but the safety it offers. Weather in the Drake Passage produces huge waves and many ships has been lost.

[pooryorick]

When I was last there, they had so much rain that they had to open the Gatun spillway for the first time since it was built. And that was in the dry season. Lucky me...

[wgowshipping]

Simon makes it sound like that the detour of 8, 000 miles around the Panama Canal is not a big deal. Very few ships sail via the Drake Passage due to the weather conditions. There have been three ships that have lost containers sailing around Africa's Cape of Good Hope and that is much better passage than that off South America.

There is no way that the Arctic will also replace the Panama Canal as it requires ice strengthened ships for the passage and all the major shipping lines have announced they will not use it; plus the Canadians won't allow it.

Finally, look at the impact that the diversion around the Suez is causing to shipping due to the Houthis. Simon is underselling the impact of a Panama Canal closure. 5% of world trade moves through it and the largest users are US and China. The US depends on it for the shipment of oil and grain from the Gulf of Mexico to Asia and the neo-Panamax lane is used to deliver containers directly to the population along the US East and Gulf coasts.

[jonh]

Don't take the alternative route around Cape Horn for granted, the weather conditions are more often bad than good and it has long been regarded as high risk.

[Mrfeet]

My grandad and uncle worked on the canal for a very long time I remember going back to Panama to visit my family and going to see them at work a few times such a beautiful View

[brianmclean]

Excellent research and delivery of information yet again Simon. Hope things opens many eyes to the significance of the infrastructure that moves, finances and ultimately profits our world!! Peace ✌️

[martinstallard]

1:26 a critical artery
4:41 shutting down the canal
11:57 global pandemonium?

[MC-]

One major issue to Panama voluntarily slowing canal traffic is the impact to their economy. It generates a lot of revenue from tolls, but it also generates a significant amount of revenue from the services that surround the canal.

[mipko]

Oh somebody has been watching Miami Vice. :) Looking sharp, thumbs up

[bradbrandon]

You know it's going to be educational when the video pops up and Simon is wearing a suit 😂. Beautiful suit, though. Off white really is your color!