News / Panama Canal unions come to blows over need for tugs

© Yanik Chauvin

Two Panama Canal unions disagree over the cause of an incident on 5 March, when the OOCL Utah was caught on video nearly crushing a tug against one of the Agua Clara lockgates.

Since the publication of last week’s article, the Panama Canal Pilots Union (PCPU) has been in contact with The Loadstar, claiming  the Panama Canal Captains and Deck Officers Union (UCOC) mischaracterised the scenario.

PCPU said: “…the stern tug was in the process of making fast to the vessel… an operation which ...