The Panama Canal Authority (PCA) has released statements combating both the rumors of the privatization of its tug fleet and the accusation that the expansion has made workers and seafarers unsafe.
Rumors began circulating on October 25, 2016 when many sources reported that the ITF had addressed a press conference claiming that the PCA was planning on privatizing the entirety of Panama Canal operations in the future, and the privatization of the tug boat fleet was merely the beginning.
The Panama Canal Authority released a statement claiming that the fleet had increased by large numbers since the expansion and that they had no plans to privatize its fleet, although some non-commercial tug boats are used, this is legitimate and usual practice.
The ITF has continually accused the PCA of ignoring safety concerns regarding the expansion, PTI reported back in June, 2016 that an independent study into the Panama Canal expansion, which was commissioned by the ITF and carried out by Brazil’s Fundação Homem de Mar, raised pressing concerns about the canal’s new locks, these were also denied by the PCA.
