News from Panama On this day: First ships sail through Panama Canal Adrian Prozzo August 6, 2015 1 minute read Post Views: 260 On this day in 1914, the first ships passed through the Panama Canal, which had taken ten years to construct. Picture: Getty Images August 3, 1914. Post navigation Previous: Panama’s Casco Viejo Cleans Up NicelyNext: Hard Rock Hotel Panama Megapolis Chooses IDeaS to Drive Better Revenue