Judy and Joe in Panama: Panama Canal

Thursday January 16, 2014

The Panama Canal

Boarding the vessel at the end of the dock

Two days before our 9 AM scheduled partial transit of the Panama Canal we received an email stating our trip had been to rescheduled to 7AM due to low water in Lake Gatun. So after an early wake up call and an early breakfast we arrived at the dock right on time, as the sun was rising over the Pacific Ocean. Panama is "S"shaped so the sun appears to be rising in the west. To go from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean ships travel the canal from south to north.

Pilot coming aboard

We left the dock at 8AM and met our pilot at the entrance to the canal. Every boat that transits the canal MUST employ a pilot who is in charge of the vessel from one end to the other. At the entrance to the canal is a large mooring field where many ships were awaiting clearance to begin their trip. Most ships with perishable goods and cruise ships make reservations many months in advance, paying a premium to do so. Ships are charged by their length and their cargo. Cruise ships generally pay the most, usually more than $300,000 (that's not a typo). The highest price ever paid was $400,000. The vessel in which we were cruising is charged $4000 for a round trip partial transit. The Panama Canal revenue averages about $6,000,000 per day. And why did we give this to Panama?

A PanaMax entering the Miraflores Lock. Ahead are two ships in a nearly full lock. The left one is a car carrier. Note the ramp attached at the stern.

Pleasure craft is attached to our vessel while in the lock. It picked up passengers in Gamboa, the end of our trip, and headed back immediately.

Our assigned lock mates were a chemical carrying tanker with its accompanying tug and a large pleasure craft which was tied to us in the locks. We went through the three locks to the midpoint of the canal Gamboa on Lake Gatun with these boats. Boats don't generally go through the locks with tugs but since the ship we were with was carrying hazardous material it had to have tug, and there was a fire truck that drove next to it as it went through the locks. Usually ships are guided into the locks and kept from hitting the sides (only about two feet on each side to spare) by "mules", locomotive type of machines that are driven on tracks.

Locks are closing

The chemical tanker is ahead of our boat. Notice the "mules" on either side of it to keep it from hitting the sides of the locks. It's a tight fit, only two feet on either side.

The lock is almost full. There's a PanaMax in the lock next to us.

Looking back at full locks

Construction of new canal along the Panama Canal

In a lock next to us was a PamaMax, the name given to large tankers that are of maximum size to fit in a lock. Because of the limiting size of the locks super tankers carrying goods bound for one coast or the other must off load their cargo and ship it to destinations via trains. Along the one hundred year old Panama Canal another canal is being dug. This one is designed to accommodate these super tankers.

Once out of all three locks responsible for lifting the ships to the level of Lake Gatun, somewhat less than 100 feet, ships must navigate the cut carved through the mountains to Lake Gatun. Due to the winding narrow passage every ship except the cruise ships, must have a tug attached to its stern. The tug isn't tugging or pushing. It's just there in case of an emergency, and the cost is $3000 per hour. Transiting the canal is a very costly endeavor.

Entering the cut between the locks and Lake Gatun. That used to be all one hill which is now separated by the canal Most ships are required to have an accompanying tug just in case of emergencies through this narrow passage..

Tug accompanying a ship through the cut.

As we passed through the canal we saw tankers, cruise ships, a sailboat or two, and two large awkward looking car carriers which could hold up to nearly 50,000 cars. Needless to say we found the trip fascinating. Joe and I remained on deck for nearly the entire windy, hot trip. We were offered breakfast but passed on that, but we did go into the dining room for lunch. Ahh... air conditioning! Our trip to the half way point in the canal took a little over six hours. A full transit made by cargo ships and passenger ships usually takes ten to twelve hours. At the end of the trip we were transported via air conditioned buses to our starting point at Flamingo Marina on the Amador Causeway. From here we took a cab to pick up our car for the remainder of the trip. That's the next story!