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Panama Canal cruising

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Panama Canal Transit - south to north sailing

When I sailed through the Panama Canal from the Pacific Ocean to the Atalntic, it was on a voyage from Santaigo in, Chile, South America to Boston, USA on the cruise ship, Norwegian Dream.

As I had written a book set on the Leeds/Liverpool canal, I really wanted to experience a mega-canal.

It was a fantastic experience.
Here are a few of my photos.

Pan-continental Highway to Panama City

Gateway to the Panama canal from the Pacific Ocean
It's a real Sydney Harbour Bridge look-alike.
It carries the Pan-Continental Highway which runs from north to South America.

Panama canal - approaching Miraflores

The man in rowing boat is carrying one of the cables which will be connected to the 'mules' to assist the ship through the locks.

Miraflores Locks - Panama Canal

Each of the three sets of locks on the Panama canal have two lanes.
The tallest and heaviest of the miter gates are at the southern etrance of the Miraflores Locks.
They were designed to Handle the Pacific Ocean's extreme tide fluctuations.

A "mule" on the canal's towpath

There are numerous 'mules' which tow, control and align each ship as it transits the canal.
These electric locomotives work in pairs and run on tracks alongside the lock.
Some vessels require 4 - 8 locomotives to control it.

Entering Panama's Miraflores Lock from the southern end of the canal

The Miraflores Lock (2-step) is at the southern end of the canal.

The Panama Canal was opened in 1914.
It is 80 km long and is aligned in a north south direction across the isthmus of Panama.

Visitors to Panama attracted to canal

Anyone visiting Panama City enjoys a visit to the Canal to watch the ships locking through.
It's a bit hard to see on thiis pic but there are hundreds of people on the top of the building.

Vessels are toe to tail in the Panama Canal

The locks are filled with fresh water from the rivers of the watershed.
It would be too expenside to pump water from the sea.

Cable connected to back of ship and controlled by 'mules'

Can you see the cable running from the back of the ship and connected to the two locos?
They are amazing little 'creatures'.

Waiting in the chamber for the lock to fill

Ahead is the Miraflores Lake and only a few kilometers from the Pedro Miguel Lock.

The second lock - Pedro Miguel - Panama Canal

Not far from the Miraflores (2 chambers) lock is the Pedro Miguel lock.
This is a single lock.
This step takes the ship to the height of the cut and the Gatun Lake which is 26 meters above sea level.

Filling the lock chamber

Approximately 197 millions litres of fresh water is used for each lockage.
Ultimately the water is flushed into the sea.
It's amazing how quickly the water pours in.
You can watch the level rising.

The Gaillard or Culebra Cut - Panama Canal

The Panama Canal was in part cut through solid rock as you can see.
Apart from combatting disease in the early days, this area was one of the biggest obstacles t the canal builders.
This is the narrowest stretch of the Panama canal.
It runs for 12.6 km and represents 15% of the total length.
The area cut from Pedro Miguel to Gamboa is the Continental Divide.

New section of canal and new locks being dug in Panama

Widening and dredging continue on the canal but already there are plans for new locks.
A new three-step lock with watersaving basins are to be contructed with a new section of cut at the southern end of the canal.
And a three-step lock also with watersaving basins will be built between the Gatun Lake and the Atlanic in the north.

Passing the Serenade of the Seas on the Panama Canal

Most of the cruise ship traffic on the Panama Canal is between the western seaboard of the USA and the Caribbean.
World cruises use the canal occasionally and cruising vessels repositioning between the northern and southern hemisphere.
Bigger locks are essential for the mega cruise liners which are now being launched.

Chagres River, Gamboa, Panama

The Chagres River which flows down from the Alhajuela Lake and Dam joins the cut at Gamboa.
We passed this tributary about midway through the transit.

The Gatun Lake, Panama is part of the canal- And the container ships are huge

... and getting bigger.
When the new locks are completed in 2014 it will allow transit of post-panamax vessels capable of carrying 12,000 containers.

On the Panama Canal approaching the Gatun Locks

These locks are at the northern end of the canal and are the exit to the Altantic (Caribbean) from the Gatun Lake.

Leaving the Gatun Locks

Behind me is the huge Gatun Lake which represents about half the length of the canal.
Ships anchor here waiting their turn to lock out.

An empty chamber - Panama Canal

As the water is pumped out the level drops to that of the Caribbean on the other side of the gate.
From my stateroom window I can only see the stone walls of the lock.
The gates are 25 meters tall.

Leaving the second last chamber

Lock chambers are 33.5 meters wide and 305 meters long with a draft of 12.04 meters (fresh water).
Maximum dimensions for shipping is: Beam - 32.31 meters.
That leaves a difference of only 1.19 meters - a tight squeeze.

All lock gates are double for protection

There are 40 pairs of miter gates which all date back to the canals construction 100 years ago.
The gates are removed for servicing every 10 - 15 years
Each one weighs 730 tons.

The Panama Canal operates 24 hours a day

Looking back to the Gatun Lake.
With the lighting at the locks and along the cut the Panama Canal operates 24 hours a day.

Exiting Panama Canal heading north into the Caribbean

It takes a full day to transit the Panama Canal.
It's an unforgetable experience!

Love the sea - love sea stories

Two sea stories on Amazon
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FLOATING GOLD - Age of sail novel inspired by sea travel

Published in May 2010, here are some of the excellent reviews for FLOATING GOLD.
FLOATING GOLD is a wonderful blend of classic Georgian naval fiction, a mystery/thriller and a grand treasure hunt. A rousing tale, well told. It's a well-paced and vividly drawn tale of adventure in the high latitudes and on the high seas. Highly recommended.
http://www.oldsaltblog.com

When you have read as many naval fiction novels as I have, the first challenge a new author and book has to meet is - do the story and characters seem fresh? This is a challenge Floating Gold achieves from cover to cover in a pacy narrative which held my attention.
Would I like to read more of Captain Quintrell, Lieutenant Parry, Acting Carpenter Will Ethridge and their adventures? I certainly would.
A book I recommend.
http://www.historicnavalfiction.com

FLOATING GOLD is a nautical thriller that involves a well-plotted treasure hunt. Other nautical heroes too have been chasing treasures on the high seas and in exotic locations, most often Spanish galleons loaded with gold, but none of them - to my knowledge - have ever been chasing a treasure like the one that is featured in this book.
It is an innovative and entertaining tale, rich on detail about England and life at sea, and a tale that is very well told.
FLOATING GOLD is an excellent nautical fiction debut by Margaret Muir. I hope she continues to write about Quintrell - a character that I feel has a lot of potential.
If you like historical fiction, salty sea tales or clever adventures, FLOATING GOLD is a book you should get hold of - it is very entertaining, well written and intelligently plotted! http://www.navyfiction.com

Available from Amazon.com

Historical novels by Margaret Muir

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Unusual railways - funicular, cable, Abt and a chain ferry

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Join me as I travel around the world

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My TALL SHIP adventures plus AMBERGRIS

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I'm also here in cyberspace...

Margaret Muir author - blogspot
My blog has interesting bits of all sorts
Margaret Muir - Author - website
Has a CONTACT ME page

Goats and Newfoundland dogs plus kids (writing)

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Matthew Brady - the gentleman bushranger

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Have you sailed through Panama or would you like to?

  • throughglasseyes Dec 6, 2008 @ 8:54 pm | in reply to MindGuru | delete
    Thanks for taking time to comment.
    Marg
  • Dec 6, 2008 @ 7:38 pm | delete
    Thanks for the informative, interesting lens!
  • Dec 6, 2008 @ 7:38 pm | delete
    Thanks for the informative, interesting lens!
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throughglasseyes

Hi, I live in Tasmania (Australia) and I'm an author. Last year I completed another course of study. Also in 2011 all my books were published in Paperback... more »

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