DAY 100---PANAMA CANAL TRANSIT

NOW TO VIEW MY JANUARY AND FEBRUARY POSTS YOU WILL HAVE TO CLICK ON THAT MONTH SO THOSE POSTS WILL BE DISPLAYED.

TO VIEW PREVIOUS POSTINGS USE THE "BLOG ARCHIVE" UNDER OUR PHOTO ON THE RIGHT.  THEN CLICK ON THE DAY OR DAYS YOU MISSED.  ALSO CLICKING ON THE PHOTOS WILL ENLARGE THEM.  I RECOMMEND THAT. 

                                                               GOOD FRIDAY

Today we are transiting the Panama Canal.  Yesterday the Captain said we would be entering the first lock at 7:15 this morning and we did.  However, I heard the narrator begin at 6:20.  There are rain shower in the canal today and the temperature is 80 degrees.  We have a Panamanian pilot taking us through the canal plus a Panamanian narrator describing our transit over the PA.

PANAMA CANAL BACKGROUND INFO:

Today we are transiting the Panama Canal for our 12^th time.  It is one of my very favorite cruises because of its fascinating history and it is truly amazing engineering marvel.  The French began construction on the canal in 1881 but by 1989 the French company was bankrupt and over 22,000 workers had lost their lives due to yellow fever (from mosquitoes) and accidents.  Back then Panama was a province of Columbia but in 1903 US warships blocked the sea lanes so Columbia could not put down a rebellion.  On November 3, 1903, Panama declared its independence from Columbia.  The United States began construction on the canal in 1904 and the canal opened on August 15, 1914.  The canal celebrated its 100^th anniversary this year.  The US controlled and provided the defense of the Panama Canal Zone until 1977 when a gradual hand over to the Panama Canal Authority was completed in 1999.  (Big mistake in my opinion.  One of many that Jimmy Carter made).   So today the Panama government owns and operates the canal.  The canal employs a work force of 9,000 and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Contrary to what you may think, the canal runs north/south, NOT east/west.  At 8am this morning we entered the Gatun Locks at Limon Bay from the Caribbean Sea (Atlantic side).  The Gatun Locks consists of 3 locks where you enter and the ship is raised totally by water from the lock above it.  Gravity moves the water to equalize the water levels and the ship rises.  Ships are raised 85 feet above sea level this way and then enter Gatun Lake.  This huge lake was formed mostly by damming up the rivers.  The engineers had to make an 8 mile cut in one section of the canal so ship could go through.  This is called the Gaillard Cut.  Over 30 million cubic yards of rock and dirt had to be excavated by steam shovels.  So once in the lake you sail to the other side (Pacific side).  We have to be lowered 85 feet back down to sea level.  The first lock we come to is called the Pedro Migel Lock that takes us down to Miraflores Lake.  The lake is only 1 mile across before we go into the two Miraflores Locks.  Once again we went 85 feet up to lake level and then down 85 feet on other side down to sea level.  Transit of the 48 miles takes 8 to 10 hours.  Each lock is 110 feet wide and 1050 feet long.  This size will accommodate Panamax sized ships but not our aircraft carriers or oil companies’ “super tankers”.  A new lane was completed in June of 2016.  It will double the capacity of the Panama Canal.  The engineering concept of the canal is very simplistic but requires lots of water.  Each time the bottom lock gate is opened 26 million gallons of water goes into the ocean from the lakes above.  So for a one ship to transit, it requires 52 million gallons of water.  What makes this all work is the amount of rainfall Panama receives to keep the lakes full.  By the way, it is expensive to transit the canal.  Companies pay by the ship’s weight.  It is costing Regent $150,000 today for our transit.  Payment is only by cash!!  Each ship’s company has to have wired the money to Panama before it is allowed to transit.  Ships are lined up to get through the canal and may be days before they can transit.  Cruise ships have priority going through, thankfully!  Small sail boats can also use the canal and may share a lock with another ship.  Our ship is not nearly as big as the large cruise ships that we have also been on during transit.  The larger cruise ships fill the locks with just about a foot to spare on each side.  Cruise ships have traditionally been limited in size so they will pass through the Panama Canal.  Rebecca and I were fortunate to have been invited by the Captain to be on the bridge during a Princess cruise.  We were the only passengers on the bridge.  Don’t tell anyone as this is strictly forbidden!   As an aside, a Hong Kong company was to start building another canal through Nicaragua but that has been scrapped apparently.

LAST NIGHT:

We enjoyed pre-dinner cocktails in the Horizon Lounge with David & Melody Hermann before heading up to Sette Mari for a great dinner.  Sette Mari was packed last night.  Seems everyone did not like the menu down in Compass Rose.

This is my veal osso bucco served on polenta.  Very good!!  Rebecca enjoyed penne pasta with a meat/ tomato sauce

At the table next to us was Kenny James and his son dining with Lauren Jelencovich.  Lauren's 2nd show was earlier in the evening.  Kenny's show is tonight.

TODAY:

                          Lush vegetation in Panama and certainly along the canal.  Rain forests.

                                                       Entering the 2nd of 3 Gatun locks.

      Before being raised.  The 3 locks will raise us 85 feet from sea level up to the level of Gatun lake.

                                                                  After being raised

        Oil tanker empty on its way to Aruba for some Venezuelan oil entering lock on other side.

                                            We are now at the level of the Gatun Lake.

           Note the sign with 500 on it.  This was taken prior to us being raised in the lock.

                                       Now this is after being raised so note the sign.

                                Tanker named "San Antonio" before being lower opposite us.

Now it is lowered as it is heading off the lake and back down to sea level for the Atlantic side.

                              Looking back at the Atlantic Bridge running to Colon.

One of the "mules" that keep us positioned in the middle of the canal.  We have 3 of these on each side of us.  The ship moves through the locks on its own power.  The mules just keep us centered.

Three Gatun locks raise us 85 feet to the lake level.  On the other side of the lake we were lowered back 31 feet to the Miraflores Lake in the one Pedro Miguel lock then later on back to sea level in the two Miraflores locks on the Pacific Ocean side of the canal. 

                                                                 This guy observing us.

                                                          Not sure what this tower is for.

Note the panels at the top of this tower.  This used throughout the canal to help the pilot align the ships to keep them in the middle of the canal.  There are lights in them for use at night as the canal operated 24/7.

                     Here is a second tanker ship entering the lock heading opposite way as us.

                                                                  Before being lowered

Note the emergency life boat on the aft of this ship.  Would not want to be in it when it hit the water.

                                                                    After being lowered.

                                                                    Lock gates

                                                                    Fire equipment

                                           Looking forward as we sail into Gatun Lake.

                 Looking back is a better look at the panel used to align in coming ships.

                               Looking back at the entrance to the Gatun locks on the other side.

                                       A turn wheel so the mules can switch to another track.

      You see the green arrow at the entrance used to tell the approaching ship which lane to use.

                                               A third empty tanker about to enter the locks.

             The Gatun dam in the distance.  There is also a hydro-electric power plant at the lake.

                 More of the signs used to align the ships especially for the bends in the lake.

Going through the 8 mile long Culebra Cut.  Over 5000 men lost their lives digging this cut through rock and dirt.

                           Getting a new pilot for the San Miguel and Miraflores locks.

Centennial Bridge completed in 2004 to reduce the traffic over the Bridge of the Americas.  It is now used for traffic on the Pan-American Highway connecting Central and South America.

                              A tug will help us line up to enter the San Miguel lock.

This mega container ship passed us up as we waited our turn to enter San Miguel lock.  It will be using the new canal.

                                  Now you can see the new lane of the canal used for larger ships.

Note the arrow pointing to our lane when about to enter the first of two Miraflores locks.  The row boat about to bring the lines from the mules out to our ship.  There are also some Panamanian line men on our ship for the transit.  In the boat one guy rows and the other handles the lines.

                                             Linemen returning to wait for the next ship.

                                                       Mules lined up and ready to go.

              Note the arrow was changed to the other lane for the next ship coming behind us.

                    If the lake gets too full they can release some of the water at these gates.

Viewing stand for visitors to view the ships passing through and the operation of the locks.  We have been at this stand as part of a previous cruise tour.  We think it was when we were on the old Radisson Diamond cruise ship.

                          You can see the high rise buildings of Panama City in the distance.

                        They are preparing to disembark a passenger due to medical reasons.

                                 DO NOT post this photo on any social media for his privacy.

Leaving the 2nd and last lock at Miraflores and now back down to sea level on the Pacific Ocean side of the canal.  Forgot to mention that there is a 10 knot speed limit for ships in the canal.  This for safety of navigation with other ships opposite direction and to reduce shore erosion.

                 Looking back at where the new canal lane ships leave and enter the Pacific side.

                                      Coming up is the Bridge of the Americas built in 1962.

                                                                  US Coast Guard ship

                                               Container cargo port at Balboa, Panama.

        Well, we passed under the Bridge of the Americas at 4:15 so the transit today was 9 hours.  We are now in the Pacific Ocean heading for our next stop at Puntarenas, Costa Rica.  Tomorrow is another sea day so will be arriving in Puntarenas on Easter Sunday.

        After passing Balboa it started raining cat & dogs.  Blocked out our internet satellite.  I'm ready to publish this post so hope we pass the shower soon.

        This evening there is a special Seder dinner for our Jewish friends up in La Veranda.  We have 7pm reservations for dinner in Prime 7.  After dinner we will head for the theater to see Kenny James show.  We turn our clocks back an hour at 2am so will gain an hour of sleep tonight.