MARINE LIGHTING EQUIPMENT OF THE PANAMA CANAL- 115 



The proposed aids to navigation are numbered in the order in which they are used 

 in passing from the sea on the Atlantic side through the canal to Miraflores Locks, 

 and from the Pacific side in like manner to the same point. In order to simplify 

 the numbering, however, the canal and its approaches are divided into natural 

 districts as follows: — 



Atlantic Section. — From Breakwater Light to foot of Gatun Locks. 



Gatun Lake Section. — From foot of Gatun Locks to Bas Obispo. 



Culebra Cut Section. — From Bas Obispo to Pedro Miguel. 



Miraflores Lake Section. — From Pedro Miguel to Miraflores Locks. 



Pacific Section.— -Prom. Pacific Ocean to Miraflores Locks. 



All the ranges, except the Atlantic and Pacific entrances, will be so placed that 

 ships after entering the canal will follow a sailing course 125 feet to starboard of 

 the axis of the channel; thus two ships in passing will be 250 feet apart, center to 

 center, and each will be running on a range ahead, thereby obviating the necessity 

 of turning out when passing each other. 



The entrance tangents, however, have the |range on the center line and vessels 

 will use the same ones whether entering or leaving the canal. 



For marking the short tangents and for referencing the location of gas buoys, 

 reinforced concrete targets will be used. 



Range Towers. — The range towers are all of reinforced concrete and are of two 

 general types. Those for the Atlantic and Pacific divisions, and for prominent 

 places in the Gatun Lake Section, are of a more ornate description, while those for 

 the Gatun Lake Section are very plain and inexpensive. The heights of the range 

 towers vary from 28 feet to 105 feet from base to focal plane. 



Beacons. — Where the shore line approaches close to the edge of the channel, 

 the side lights are placed on reinforced concrete beacons. 



These beacons are cast at the central plant in three parts — the body, the roof, 

 and the post for the lantern. The foundations will be prepared for these and then a 

 derrick barge will take them out and set them up in place, with the parts laid in 

 mortar. 



At the Pacific entrance the type of beacon is different from the general type 

 because of the great range of tide which is twenty feet, and the low banks. It 

 consists of a steel framework encased in concrete and supporting a reinforced con- 

 crete watch room and a lantern post. The foundation is a group of reinforced 

 concrete piles capped with a concrete slab on which rests a small reinforced concrete 

 caisson. 



Buoys. — As stated above, the sides of the channel in deep water will have 

 lighted buoys about every miles with intermediate spar buoys. Each buoy will 

 consist of a cylindrical, floating, steel body surmounted by a steel framework which 

 supports a light and lens at a height of 15 feet above water level. The body is 8 

 feet in diameter, made of i^^-inch steel plate with dished heads, to the bottom of 

 which is attached a steel tube and counterweight. The draught of the buoy will be 

 12 feet, and it will be moored on its station by a heavy chain and a concrete sinker. 



