The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has called on the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) to strengthen fatigue prevention measures following the death of a 59-year-old tugboat captain on September 30, 2026. The captain died aboard the tug Cerro Santiago while assisting a northbound Neo-Panamax vessel in the Panama Canal. According to reports, he had been working an extended midnight watch on his sixth consecutive day of duty.

The cause of death has not been officially established. Initial reports indicated a possible stroke, prompting the ITF to call for a thorough, independent, and transparent investigation. The federation said the investigation should examine possible fatigue-related factors, working hours, rest periods, crew staffing, and duty schedules to determine whether working conditions contributed to the incident.

ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton emphasized the need for enforceable protections for maritime workers, including limits on consecutive duty days, adequate rest periods, and sufficient staffing levels. Jacques Kerkhof, chair of the ITF Inland Navigation Section, also urged the authorities to address longstanding concerns raised by workers and unions regarding excessive working hours and inadequate rest among tugboat crews.

The incident has renewed attention to fatigue-related safety concerns in Panama Canal operations. In 2017, the same tug, Cerro Santiago, was involved in a collision with the United States Coast Guard cutter Tampa, with an investigation identifying fatigue as a factor. The ITF is urging the canal authority to work with unions and workers to review fatigue risks and implement stronger safeguards to protect crews and maintain safe vessel transit operations.