Point of Interest: Panama Canal
On December 26th we headed into the Panama Canal. We passed dozens of cargo ships at anchor awaiting their turn to enter the Canal. Our guest lecturer on board explained that ships with “human cargo” (yes, we are cargo) have immediate right of passage. Other cargo ships have to file as long as one year in advance to gain passage. Whew! Can you imagine sitting at anchor for weeks or months waiting for your turn because someone didn’t file the paperwork in time?
We passed rows of ships at anchor. The engines were quiet. The water was quiet, almost eerie. We have a fantail cabin, so we’re accustomed to churning engines and water. This was creepy quiet.
Crossing below the beautiful Atlantic Bridge (Puenta Atlantico) we are on our way to the first set of locks, the Gatun locks.
Atlantic Bridge (Puenta Atlantico)
It began to rain, so we went to the Horizons Lounge, Deck 10 Forward, to watch the canal entry. About 8:30 AM we approached the first lock. The ship before us began moving to the next lock as we approached. Apologies for the quality of the next series of images – these were taken through tinted glass spotted with rain.
Approaching the first lock of the Gatun Locks
After the water leveled, the lock’s doors opened, allowing our ship to enter. Then water would flow from the next lock into the lock we occupied, again leveling the water so the next set of doors could open. This process repeated for three locks.
Entering the first Gatun Lock
The beauty of the Panama Canal locks is all of the water movement is performed by gravity. There are no pumps in this set of canals. Water flows from one lock to the next through a set of 100 pipes 4.5 ft in diameter. It only takes 3 minutes to complete each transfer – faster than you can fill a bathtub!
In the final Gatun Lock
We were often equally entertained by the ships moving in the adjacent set of locks. Watching the “mules” (the electric-powered tugs on each side of the ship, fore and aft, and sometimes midships as seen below) maneuvering the elevations, allowing slack in their lines and taking them taught again is very interesting!
Atlantic-bound ship next to us with a midship mule just reaching the bottom of the ramp
The mules at the forward end of the tanker
Once we cleared the Gatun Locks we are now 85 ft above sea level, and cruising in Lake Gatun. On our right we can see the Gatun Dam, responsible for the creation of this man-made lake that makes the Panama Canal possible.
Gatun Dam
Crossing Gatun Lake we eventually pass the Centennial Bridge (Puenta Centenerio) and then approach the central lock, the Pedro Miguel lock.
Approaching the Centennial Bridge (Puenta Centenario)
The rains stopped so we returned to our fantail cabin. This changes the viewpoint entirely. We can still see what’s coming up on the stateroom TV.
While we waited to enter the Pedro Miguel lock we were entertained by movement of the mules. This mule was spun around from the right track to the left track and then parked at the far end of the building in the picture. Soon five more mules joined the two already parked at the end. It appeared they had already moved the last ship northbound (to the Atlantic) and were preparing to spend the rest of the day getting ships through southbound (to the Pacific)
Mule moving to the opposite side via a turntable
Mules queuing up at the east end of the Pedro Miguel lock
One in the Pedro Miguel lock we take out first step in being lowered back to sea level.
Water begins moving out of the Pedro Miguel lock
We are near the bottom of the Pedro Miguel lock level
Our mule, one of four, dutifully maneuvers us through the Pedro Miguel lock.
Mule starboard aft at Pedro Miguel lock
We took TV Ears so we could watch movies late without having to have the volume too high. These allowed us to stand on our fantail veranda and still hear the special guide’s commentary that was being broadcast on the ship’s TV system. We wore them backwards here because they are infrared receivers and needed to point back into the stateroom. It was great!
Joy wearing TV Ears to hear Panama Canal commentary
We approached and entered the last of the locks, the Miraflores Locks. This is a set of two locks that drop us to sea level for the Pacific Ocean. There is a Visitor’s Center here that we are told has over 2,000 visitors each day to watch the ships move through the locks!
In the upper Miraflores Lock
Miraflores Locks
There were a lot of visitors watching and waving at us!
Miraflores Visitor’s Center
We’re now back at sea level on the Pacific side!
In the last Miraflores lock
Our last landmark is the Bridge of the Americas (Puente de Las Americas)
The Bridge of the Americas (Puente de Las Americas)
As we enter the Pacific Ocean we catch a glimpse of Panama City. It is much bigger than it was when we made our first Panama Canal crossing in 2003!
Panama City in the distance
We had hoped to see more of the new locks that were completed a few years ago, but the trees prevented us from getting a decent look. There is only one canal, but it is substantially wider that those we used, so bigger cargo ships may now transit the canal. The technology is a little different as they recapture water that flows from the locks, and rather than dumping it in the ocean it is transferred to a series of holding ponds. This allows the water to be reused for several lock operations before being discharged. And rather than the rotating lock gates, the new locks have sliding lock doors. If you have any interest you can at least view these on Google Maps:
The new locks near Gatun locks:
https://www.google.com/maps/@9.2718847,-79.9184854,3400m/data=!3m1!1e3
The new locks near Miraflores:
https://www.google.com/maps/@8.987572,-79.5889417,4226m/data=!3m1!1e3
Happy perusing! Next stop – Puntarenas!
