Day 6 Panama Canal Transit 3/7/2012

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1 Day 6 Panama Canal Transit 3/7/2012 The Panama Canal joins the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and is a key route for international maritime trade. One of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken, the canal had an enormous impact on shipping between the two oceans, replacing the long and treacherous route via either the Strait of Magellan or Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America. It cut the trip from New York to San Francisco by half. Over 815,000 vessels have passed through the canal since it was built ( ), with a current annual count of about 14,700. It has been named one of the seven modern wonders of the world by the American Society of Civil Engineers. On an east to west cruise, the lay of the land results in a NNW to SSE transit, entering the Panama Canal at Cristobel and exiting at Balboa. One of the best reads about the Panama Canal. Three locks (Gatun, Puerto Miguel, Miraflores) move ships upwards 85 feet from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to Gatun Lake, the largest manmade lake in the world, then back down again, over a course of almost 50 miles.

2 We got up at 4:30 am and to the Sports (top) Deck at 5. This is what we were advised to do in order to see all the ships waiting to enter the canal. Still dark, we saw the lights of quite a few ships. Many were there to transit the canal those who had paid the reservation fee (see Day 5 Sea Day) were assigned specific times to enter the canal ours was 6:45 am. Shortly, the pilot boats started arriving. There are 3 pilots who come aboard during the transit: The one who drives the ship through the canal this is the only time and place a captain gives up control of his ship The one who monitors the back of the ship to make sure it is completely in the lock and that the gates are closed The one who manages the locomotives which, via cables, keep the ship centered in the lock the locomotives do NOT pull the ship through The first pilot arrives. The second and third pilots arrive. Overcast, it felt good outside, warm and dry with winds (it would get very hot before long). One loop around the Sports Deck and a few photos later, we went into the Crow s Nest (CN) to wait until the ship actually started moving towards the Gatun Lock, which it did around 6. We went down to the Observation Deck (9, below the Bridge). The bow railing was already claimed all the way around. Dale waves from our post on the Observation Deck. Nearing the Gatun Lock.

3 At 6 am, people lined up for the special Panama Buns, yeast rolls with orange filling, served on most outside decks, along with coffee and tea. The guys in this little row boat perform an essential function: they bring the quarter inch cable tossed from the ship to the dock where it is hooked to a 1.25 cable that is pulled back to the ship and hooked/tied onto it the other end is attached to a locomotive. These cables (three on each side, front and back) keep the ship centered as it passes through the locks they do not pull the ship, it is guided by the pilot. The first of 5 Panama Buns Dale had that morning. Okay, I ll fess up, I had 3, they were so good Other methods have been tried, including shooting the cable over, but this is the one method that works consistently and safely (i.e., no one gets shot this way ). This has been the method used since the first day the canal opened.

4 We approach the first of 3 chambers of the Gatun Lock. The water in the lock must be lowered to our (sea) level. Note the decreasing level, and that it is, via gravity only, draining here. First the vehicle traffic clears (both directions) then the foot traffic then the car bridge swings out of the way as the lock gates open.

5 We enter the first chamber the locomotives get into position the water drains from the second chamber into the first, lifting us 27 feet so we can enter the second chamber. This is the virtual geocache for the Panama Canal. How much more complete could this picture be? The landmark in the background, the locomotive, the GPS, a Panama Bun and a big smile on the handsome geocacher s face! (Yes, I m biased wanna make something of it? )

6 The process is repeated: water from the third chamber drains into the second, lifting us another 27 feet so we can enter the third chamber. A tugboat follows us into the third chamber while another ship enters the first chamber. The lock gate closes and water is drained from Gatun Lake into the third chamber lifting us the final 31 feet so we can exit the lock onto Gatun Lake, the largest man-made lake in the world. This lake was formed when the temporary dam on the Chagras River was broken after the canal was completed. It took 4 days for the water to flood the area, creating this lake.

7 Gatun Dam, the largest man-made dam in the world, was created from earth removed as the canal was dug. Entering the Chagras River after an hour s wait. We were third in the convoy that proceeded down the river and through the Caldera cut. Shortly before noon we reached Gamboa, roughly the halfway point of the canal transit. One last barge passed us going in the other direction. From now on, all traffic would be exiting the 2 lanes on either end of the Panama Canal and locks.

8 Approaching the Pedro Miguel Lock at about 1:30 pm. There is only one chamber in the Pedro Miguel Lock. It will lower the ship 31 feet at a rate of 1 meter per minute so we can exit into Miraflores Lake. (Arrgh! At this point the camera card was full so we didn t get pictures of the Miraflores Lock. Missed photo-ops while uploading and emptying the memory card. Will get pix on the return trip, along with some of the Centennial Bridge and Bridge of the Americas.) We got to the Miraflores Lock about 3 pm. There are 2 chambers in this lock. The first lowers the ship 27 feet. The second lowers the ship up to another 27 feet because the Pacific Ocean was at high tide, we didn t need to drop quite that much. When we exited, we were in the Pacific Ocean. Happy hour had started in the Crow s Nest drinks are 2 for $1 more than the cost of one, but they have to be the same. Dale had 2 non-alcoholic Pina Coladas; I had 2 glasses of cranberry juice on the rocks looked just like the ones with Vodka in them! We asked for and received hot hors d'oeuvres (shrimp, wonton and fried zucchini).

9 We went back to the cabin to get ready for dinner, then to the main dining room. Didn t take notes and can t remember what we had, but I do remember the Watermelon Pie for dessert raspberry sherbet with chocolate pieces for seeds, and green and white ice cream for the rind. Quite tasty! After dinner we went to the showroom to watch the comedian/juggler. He was low-key-funny. A couple of my favorites: Now you know why cabin 305 was such a good deal as he was dropping bowling balls on the stage in preparation for juggling them. Nothing says bon appétit like a handful of goop. (For those who have not cruised, there are Purell Hand Sanitizer dispensers all over the ship, an effort to try to manage/control Norovirus a crew member is stationed at the entrances to the eating venues, to ensure everyone uses them or gets a squirt from the (half-gallon size? gallon size?) portable bottles they carry. ) Lo-o-ng day so we hit the hay! Entertainment tonight Showroom at Sea: Benji Hill, Comedy and other Dangerous Stuff Ocean Bar: The Neptunes (HAL s in-house band), cocktails and dancing Mix: Will Wyatt, guitarist; Lee Strubeck, Piano Man Explorer s Lounge: Adagio Strings Crow s Nest: Singing with the Halcats, DJ Mark Spins the Hits Movie: The Adventures of RinTinTin Tonight s towel animal:

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