The captains claim that the eight Z-Tech 6000 tugs have long had reliability issues. “We have reported the trouble with this equipment since its arrival, but safety now does not appear to be the priority in the canal. This agreement puts the lives of crews at risk,” the UCOC said on the social-media platform. The fight has also revealed a division between two key maritime officers unions on the canal. At issue in the UCOC’s complaints are agreements between the ACP and the Panama Canal Pilots’ Union (PCPU), whose members board ships to guide them through the waterway. We have been struggling since 2016 to counter several agreements between @canalpilots and @canaldepanama that accord use of the unreliable "Chino 1" tugs (unmistakenly identified by all as floating hazards) inside the new locks. Latest bond allows for their use with LNG vessels. pic.twitter.com/zFAjB8BqPp— UCOC Panamá (@UCOCPTY) February 3, 2021