Pictorial Record of IOWA
Transiting the Panama Canal,
Copyright 2002 Mira Flores Locks, March 28-29, 2001
On this page of our website you will discover additional photos of IOWA's amazing passage through the Mira Flores Locks at the Panama Canal in March. Photo acknowledgements are due to both naval artist/historian and committee member George Bisharat and Director Bill Stephens. Contents of this page and website are the property of HSMPS.
IOWA at anchor, awaiting her turn to enter the Mira Flores Locks (upper right). Security was especially tight around the battleship at this time. Hours later she is approaching the locks (upper left).
BB-61 is nudged carefully into the Mira Flores Locks, her beam filling the lock to within inches of its massive walls. Her movement through the Mira Flores locks required eight trains (called mules because those animals once accomplished the task long ago) to tow her--the maximum number possible. The trains and tracks are visible above.
IOWA's enormous size fills the locks and represents the largest naval vessel to transit the Canal since it reverted to Panama's control. Panamanian crews worked all train and tug tow lines as IOWA was pulled through the Canal.
For more photographs of IOWA's phenomenal passage through the Panama Canal, click here!