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The Cast Steel Panama Canal Chock represents a specialized mooring solution engineered to meet the exacting requirements of vessels transiting the Panama Canal—a critical maritime corridor handling 6% of global trade .
| Quantity: | |
|---|---|
DF-531 PANAMA
HEE
CAST STEEL PANAMA CANAL CHOCK
| MODEL No. | A | B | C | D | E | F | WT.(lbs) |
| DF-531-22×11 | 11" | 22" | 37" | 26 1/2" | 7" | 14" | 790 |
| DF-531-18×12 | 12" | 18" | 33" | 31 1/2" | 7" | 14" | 1140 |
| DF-531-24×12 | 12" | 24" | 41" | 34 1/2" | 8" | 16" | 1200 |
As canal authorities enforce stringent equipment standards to ensure safe passage through narrow locks and channels, this chock delivers certified performance with optimized rope handling capabilities. Constructed from ASTM A27 cast steel with a safe working load (SWL) of 1500 kN (153 tons), it features a unique curved throat design with a 10:1 rope bend ratio specifically calibrated for the 120mm maximum rope diameter permitted in canal operations. Its robust construction and precision engineering make it mandatory equipment for vessels exceeding 3000 DWT transiting the canal system.
The chock meets Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Specification M-07-01 requirements, including dimensional tolerances, load testing protocols, and material certifications . Its throat geometry features a 45° entry angle and 180mm radius curve that minimizes rope stress during the tight maneuvering required in canal locks. The design has been validated through full-scale testing at the ACP’s Mooring Research Facility.
Manufactured using precision sand casting of ASTM A27 grade steel, the chock achieves uniform material properties with a minimum yield strength of 240 MPa . The one-piece construction eliminates welds that could create stress concentration points, while heat treatment to 180-220 BHN hardness ensures abrasion resistance. Non-destructive testing (ultrasonic and magnetic particle) confirms absence of internal defects.
The chock features a multi-layer coating system including: sandblasting to SA 3.0 standard, 150μm zinc-rich epoxy primer, and 80μm polyurethane topcoat with UV inhibitors . This system provides 2000+ hours of salt spray resistance per ASTM B117, exceeding ACP requirements for 12-month maintenance intervals. Drainage ports at the lowest point prevent water accumulation in the rope channel.
It complies with ACP regulations for mooring equipment strength, rope compatibility, and corrosion resistance for vessels transiting the expanded canal . Certification includes witnessed load testing at 150% of SWL and documentation of material traceability to meet ACP audit requirements.
The 10:1 ratio (rope diameter to bend radius) reduces rope strength loss to less than 15% during mooring operations, meeting ACP requirements for rope efficiency . This minimizes the risk of rope failure during critical lock transits where sudden load changes are common.
All commercial vessels over 3000 DWT transiting the Panama Canal must equip bow and stern mooring stations with ACP-approved chocks . This includes container ships, bulk carriers, tankers, and Ro-Ro vessels using the Neo-Panamax and Panamax locks.
Installation requires certified weld procedures approved by the ACP, with continuous fillet welds to the vessel’s structural bulkheads . The chock must be aligned within 2° of the mooring winch centerline and include a stamped certification plate visible during canal inspections.
The chock must undergo quarterly inspections documenting coating integrity, rope channel condition, and weld integrity . Annual verification includes measuring throat dimensions to ensure no excessive wear (maximum allowable 3mm reduction from original radius). ACP-approved inspectors must certify the chock annually.
CAST STEEL PANAMA CANAL CHOCK
| MODEL No. | A | B | C | D | E | F | WT.(lbs) |
| DF-531-22×11 | 11" | 22" | 37" | 26 1/2" | 7" | 14" | 790 |
| DF-531-18×12 | 12" | 18" | 33" | 31 1/2" | 7" | 14" | 1140 |
| DF-531-24×12 | 12" | 24" | 41" | 34 1/2" | 8" | 16" | 1200 |
As canal authorities enforce stringent equipment standards to ensure safe passage through narrow locks and channels, this chock delivers certified performance with optimized rope handling capabilities. Constructed from ASTM A27 cast steel with a safe working load (SWL) of 1500 kN (153 tons), it features a unique curved throat design with a 10:1 rope bend ratio specifically calibrated for the 120mm maximum rope diameter permitted in canal operations. Its robust construction and precision engineering make it mandatory equipment for vessels exceeding 3000 DWT transiting the canal system.
The chock meets Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Specification M-07-01 requirements, including dimensional tolerances, load testing protocols, and material certifications . Its throat geometry features a 45° entry angle and 180mm radius curve that minimizes rope stress during the tight maneuvering required in canal locks. The design has been validated through full-scale testing at the ACP’s Mooring Research Facility.
Manufactured using precision sand casting of ASTM A27 grade steel, the chock achieves uniform material properties with a minimum yield strength of 240 MPa . The one-piece construction eliminates welds that could create stress concentration points, while heat treatment to 180-220 BHN hardness ensures abrasion resistance. Non-destructive testing (ultrasonic and magnetic particle) confirms absence of internal defects.
The chock features a multi-layer coating system including: sandblasting to SA 3.0 standard, 150μm zinc-rich epoxy primer, and 80μm polyurethane topcoat with UV inhibitors . This system provides 2000+ hours of salt spray resistance per ASTM B117, exceeding ACP requirements for 12-month maintenance intervals. Drainage ports at the lowest point prevent water accumulation in the rope channel.
It complies with ACP regulations for mooring equipment strength, rope compatibility, and corrosion resistance for vessels transiting the expanded canal . Certification includes witnessed load testing at 150% of SWL and documentation of material traceability to meet ACP audit requirements.
The 10:1 ratio (rope diameter to bend radius) reduces rope strength loss to less than 15% during mooring operations, meeting ACP requirements for rope efficiency . This minimizes the risk of rope failure during critical lock transits where sudden load changes are common.
All commercial vessels over 3000 DWT transiting the Panama Canal must equip bow and stern mooring stations with ACP-approved chocks . This includes container ships, bulk carriers, tankers, and Ro-Ro vessels using the Neo-Panamax and Panamax locks.
Installation requires certified weld procedures approved by the ACP, with continuous fillet welds to the vessel’s structural bulkheads . The chock must be aligned within 2° of the mooring winch centerline and include a stamped certification plate visible during canal inspections.
The chock must undergo quarterly inspections documenting coating integrity, rope channel condition, and weld integrity . Annual verification includes measuring throat dimensions to ensure no excessive wear (maximum allowable 3mm reduction from original radius). ACP-approved inspectors must certify the chock annually.
