Panama Canal to get six more Mitsubishi “mules”

Panama Canal to get six more Mitsubishi “mules”

Panama Canal to get six more Mitsubishi “mules”

   The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) will receive in May components of six locomotive units, nicknamed “mules,” from Mitsubishi Corp. for on-site assembly, testing and deployment.
   The six locomotives are among 34 units purchased by ACP from Mitsubishi under the provision that 16 of these are assembled on-site in Panama by ACP personnel. ACP staff assembled the first two locomotives in Panama under supervision of Mitsubishi engineers, between August and October last year.
   ACP said the arrangement with Mitsubishi provides ACP employees with a transfer of skills and opportunities for training and education. “Whenever we can, we want to bring to our employees experiences that create on-site institutional skills and memory,” said Jorge Quijano, ACP maritime operations director.
   All locomotives deployed by ACP have to pass a one-month full operations test before use.
   ACP said the locomotives move on tow tracks along the canal’s locks and maintain vessels’ position during transit through the locks. According to ACP the new units have 50 percent more towing power and faster return speed than previous models, helping to reduce each vessel’s lockage time.