Film Lens
The documentary focuses on the Panama Canal, detailing its historical significance and the challenges it faces today. It follows Captain Gilbert Blackwood, a third-generation pilot, who has spent 15 years guiding ships through the canal. The film shows the engineering marvel of the canal, which was completed in 1914 after a tumultuous construction period that involved thousands of laborers and significant loss of life due to diseases like malaria and yellow fever.
The narrative emphasizes the need for expansion to accommodate larger vessels known as post panamax ships, which can carry up to 8,000 containers. The film captures the pride of the pilots and the local population in operating this crucial waterway, as well as the economic implications of the canal's capacity limitations. The expansion project is set to be completed in 2014, coinciding with the canal's centenary celebrations.
Why Watch
- •Meet Captain Gilbert Blackwood, a third-generation canal pilot.
- •Find out about the historical challenges of building the Panama Canal.
- •See how the canal expansion will accommodate larger ships.
Did You Know
•At least 20,000 laborers died during the construction of the Panama Canal.
•The Panama Canal cuts the journey from Asia to New York by 5,000 km.
•Captain Gilbert Blackwood has piloted ships through the canal approximately 1,550 times per year for 15 years.
•Panamax ships are the largest vessels that can fit through the canal's locks, measuring up to 32 meters wide and 300 meters long.
Perfect For
Maritime history enthusiastsEngineering aficionadosEconomic development followers