There were landslides into the canal at Gaillard Cut, it was narrow ; only one ship at a time could transit and that was at a very slow speed

The Cut Widening Project to allow two-way traffic is shown here in 1961. The work was finally completed by Whampoa after the Canal was transferred to Panama.

The ESSO NORFOLK creeps through the cut.

This ship began life in 1942 as a USMC ship #349 VINCENNES.