Tanker Spills Oil During Panama Canal Transit

The Panama Canal Authority (PCA) forced a Greek-registered tanker to abandon a transit of the Panama Canal on April 18 after waterway workers noticed the ship was leaking crude oil.

PCA employees spotted that the 749-ft. Antipoli was leaking oil through two half-inch holes in its hull during a southbound transit of Gatun Locks.

The vessel was anchored in Lake Gatun to enable PCA firemen to make temporary repairs, while the ship's operators transferred oil to a separate tank to prevent further seepage.

The PCA is investigating the cause of the spillage, which did not affect waterway operations.