Scottish dredger that helped build the Panama Canal

The Corozal: Scottish dredger that helped build the Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is widely regarded as one of the 20th Century's engineering marvels and the Renfrew-built dredger, the Corozal, was instrumental in constructing what is often seen as one of its toughest and most dangerous sections.

The United States began work on the Panama Canal in 1904, aiming to cut out thousands of dangerous sea miles between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

As an American project the government there wanted equipment and material to come from America.

But it was a Scottish yard - Simons of Renfrew - which, in 1911, beat the competition with a bid which was less than half that of its San Francisco competitor.

The Corozal's job was leading the ships working on the Culebra Cut, which was a difficult section of the canal, prone to mudslides.

After it was finished in December 1913, the Corozal was the first ship to sail through the Culebra Cut, the last barrier to the canal opening the following year.



This image from 1911 shows the size of the huge buckets used to excavate dirt and soil

 

Back when 'Clyde-built' was a source of pride.