Tuesday - 03 February 2015 - Traversing the Panama Canal

Phil is up at 5:30 am -- ready to go to the Crow's Nest at the bow on Deck 12 for viewing -- it is air-conditioned.   I'm walking on deck six by 6:00 am.  There is already a coffee station and some special Panama Rolls available.  It is pretty before dawn as lights from the ships waiting to transit the canal fill the horizon.   As the sun rises so do the passengers --- I'm happy to get my walk in before the crowd.

Waiting to Enter the Gatun Locks on the Carribean Side of the Canal!

 Phil and I spend a couple of hours in our spot on Deck 12 as the Statendam goes through the Gatun Lock on the Atlantic/Carribean side -- and into the Gatun Lake bringing us to 85 feet above sea level.  We anchor in the Gatun Lake till 1:30pm when we move through this enormous lake into the Culebra Cut (a narrow channel).   By 3:30 pm we approach the Pedro Miguel Locks taking us down 27 feet.   At 4:15 we approach the Mira Flora Locks with two chambers  -- the first takes us down 27 feet and the second takes us down 31 feet to sea level.   At 5:15 pm the Statendam enters the Pacific Ocean.  

Going Thru the Locks!

 It is amazing to see the engineering that went into building this canal so many years ago.   Each Lock System has what are called locomotives attached to the ship on each side of the chamber -- the guide ship which moves under its own power.  The tugboats are used to assist the ship in getting into position inside the chamber.  The Tugboats and the locomotives have been upgraded to use technology in recent years.   Each tugboat costs $11 million and each locomotive costs $2 million.

Building Another Canal!

There is another canal being built next to the existing to accommodate larger vessels.   The opening was scheduled for 2014 to coincide with the 100 year anniversary of the original opening.  However there have been some issues so the new canal is expected to open in a couple of years.  Both canals will operate simultaneously.    And -- there is a plan in development to build a canal through Nicaragua with Chinese money.   One hundred years ago Nicaragua was rejected as the site for the canal because of their propensity to earthquakes.

A Door for the New Canal!

This Tug cost $11 Million!

This Locomotive cost $2 million!

It has been a long and busy day -- just trying to see everything.  The Panamanian Narrator on board was very helpful -- his explanations were broadcast in all the public areas of the ship and on Channel 44 in our cabin.    

Panama City!

We finished the day with our 8:00pm dinner in the Rotterdam Dining Room.

Thanks for Reading!

Pat