PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Ships crossed the isthmus of Panama without problems Saturday, the nation's first full day as sole administrator of the canal. Popular concern about the canal's security, however, remained.
The transfer of the waterway and surrounding property from the United States to Panamanian hands was finalized at noon Friday, ending 85 years of American control. Panamanians celebrated what they described as the start of full sovereignty.There were no reports of problems stemming from the feared Y2K computer glitch. Canal authorities had stressed that operations would go smoothly since the technology used to run the canal is largely the same as it was when it opened in 1914.
Authorities had closely watched electricity and water generators for any trouble.
"Everything has come out well. . . . All is normal without any problems," a Canal Authority spokeswoman said, speaking on condition of customary anonymity.
Thirteen ships traversed the 50-mile-long canal in the first hours of the new year, the department of maritime traffic control reported.
A refrigerated cargo ship, the Balboa Reefer, was the first to cross the canal in 2000, passing the Miraflores locks on the Pacific side at 3:06 a.m. A Greek ship, Chios Beauty, entered the Atlantic side locks at Gatun at 3:48 a.m.
The greatest popular concern about the canal is whether Panama is ready to defend it against a potential attack.
The nation's army was dissolved following the 1989 U.S. invasion to unseat military strongman Manuel Noriega. The country since has relied on a national police force, currently 18,000 strong.
A poll of 1,200 Panamanians by the La Prensa newspaper showed 70 percent believe Panama is not capable of defending the strategic waterway. More than 72 percent said Panama needs the United States to protect the canal, and 68 percent opposed the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
The poll, published Thursday, was taken Dec. 10-12 and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
Authorities, however, have insisted that Panama is ready to defend the canal without the U.S. military, which had maintained a presence here since 1903 when the country became independent of Colombia.