Panama Canal Locks
Jan. 12
6 am in the morning found us waiting in the ships theater for our excursion to the Panama Canal Locks to start. We had anchored off shore so we had to get loaded into a ship tender for a short trip to port where we would board another boat that would take us thru the Pacific side Panama Canal locks. The excursion would take all day. As we entered the first lock we found ourselves with two other boats/ships.
First some history:
In the 1880's, the French were contracted to build a canal thru Panama from the Pacific ocean to the Atlantic. This was the same company that built the Suez canal so they had some experience in this type of project. In 1904 they failed and went broke. At this time the US decided that they could build it and bought all the permits and land leases from the French and started building. First they had to tackle getting malaria and yellow fever under control. They found out that Mosquitoes were the culprits in causing the diseases so they sprayed thousands of gallons of pesticide to kill them off. Next they had to build some infrastructure such as a rail way and roads to transport supplies, people, equipment and dirt and rock from the digs. In 1914 the canal was opened for business. And finally, they had to dam up the existing river to build the second largest fresh water man made lake in the world. In 2016 the Panama Gov. built another set of locks that were bigger and more efficient than the original locks. These were longer and wider to accept the new larger ships, mostly for container ships. In 1977 Jimmy Carter signed an agreement to turn over the ownership of the canal to Panama in 1999. I have no idea why. The canal is quite a money maker as it brings in over a billion dollars a year in revenue. Some larger ships pay as much as $1,000,000 to cross thru the canal.
The operation of the canal is pretty specific. Upon entering the first lock, the gates are closed and water flows into the lock by gravity from 3 holding ponds next to the lock. After it raises 27', the leading gate is opened and the ship is moved via electric mules to the next lock and the process is repeated until it leaves the last lock and enters the lake. The ship then travels 20+ miles to the opposite set of locks to repeat the process until the ship is back to sea level.
So, back to our excursion across the locks. We entered the locks and joined a very large ship and an another personal yacht. When the gate closed we were raised up the 27', we were close enough to the wall that we could touch it. After about 20 minutes, we followed the other ship into the next lock and this process was repeated until we entered the lake. At about 10 miles in we left our boat and boarded a bus and were back on board our ships about an hour later.
Jan. 13
Again at 6 am our ship entered the first lock but we were on the new lock system. The gates here move horizontally and take about 5 minutes to open or close the lock. Water enters the lock thru a different water system that is quicker and uses less water. About an hour later, we were entering the fresh water lake. At about 4 pm we entered the locks at the Atlantic to reverse the process. An hour or so later, we were at the Atlantic on our way to Cartagena, Columbia.
Jan. 14
Really rough seas last night and in the AM. Up to 8 meters high. Finally got to the harbor in Columbia at 11 AM. Renie is going on an excursion to shop in town. I am staying on board as I hurt my heal.
6 am in the morning found us waiting in the ships theater for our excursion to the Panama Canal Locks to start. We had anchored off shore so we had to get loaded into a ship tender for a short trip to port where we would board another boat that would take us thru the Pacific side Panama Canal locks. The excursion would take all day. As we entered the first lock we found ourselves with two other boats/ships.
First some history:
In the 1880's, the French were contracted to build a canal thru Panama from the Pacific ocean to the Atlantic. This was the same company that built the Suez canal so they had some experience in this type of project. In 1904 they failed and went broke. At this time the US decided that they could build it and bought all the permits and land leases from the French and started building. First they had to tackle getting malaria and yellow fever under control. They found out that Mosquitoes were the culprits in causing the diseases so they sprayed thousands of gallons of pesticide to kill them off. Next they had to build some infrastructure such as a rail way and roads to transport supplies, people, equipment and dirt and rock from the digs. In 1914 the canal was opened for business. And finally, they had to dam up the existing river to build the second largest fresh water man made lake in the world. In 2016 the Panama Gov. built another set of locks that were bigger and more efficient than the original locks. These were longer and wider to accept the new larger ships, mostly for container ships. In 1977 Jimmy Carter signed an agreement to turn over the ownership of the canal to Panama in 1999. I have no idea why. The canal is quite a money maker as it brings in over a billion dollars a year in revenue. Some larger ships pay as much as $1,000,000 to cross thru the canal.
The operation of the canal is pretty specific. Upon entering the first lock, the gates are closed and water flows into the lock by gravity from 3 holding ponds next to the lock. After it raises 27', the leading gate is opened and the ship is moved via electric mules to the next lock and the process is repeated until it leaves the last lock and enters the lake. The ship then travels 20+ miles to the opposite set of locks to repeat the process until the ship is back to sea level.
So, back to our excursion across the locks. We entered the locks and joined a very large ship and an another personal yacht. When the gate closed we were raised up the 27', we were close enough to the wall that we could touch it. After about 20 minutes, we followed the other ship into the next lock and this process was repeated until we entered the lake. At about 10 miles in we left our boat and boarded a bus and were back on board our ships about an hour later.
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| Our Ship Anchored out in the middle of the Pacific Out of Panama |
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| Taking this Ferry on our Excursion |
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| Panama City |
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| The Wall of the Locks |
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| On our Panama Canal Locks Excursion. |
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| The Original Locks. The Gates are opening for us. |
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| This is the Dam for Gatun Lake |
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| Us having a good time in the Panama Canal Locks on the Pacific Side |
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| In the Locks in the Pacific |
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| Lock 1 at the Atlantic Side. A Ship carrying Natural Gas in front of us. |
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| Entering the Locks to the Atlantic |
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| Gate is Opening for us to enter the 1st Lock to the Atlantic |
Jan. 13
Again at 6 am our ship entered the first lock but we were on the new lock system. The gates here move horizontally and take about 5 minutes to open or close the lock. Water enters the lock thru a different water system that is quicker and uses less water. About an hour later, we were entering the fresh water lake. At about 4 pm we entered the locks at the Atlantic to reverse the process. An hour or so later, we were at the Atlantic on our way to Cartagena, Columbia.
Jan. 14
Really rough seas last night and in the AM. Up to 8 meters high. Finally got to the harbor in Columbia at 11 AM. Renie is going on an excursion to shop in town. I am staying on board as I hurt my heal.
That’s super interesting. So the cruise ship did not need to go through?
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