The Bridge of The Americas
after 28 days of ocean passage...we arrive at the port of Balboa in Panama City located at Gulf of Panama..the capital city of Panama and also the Pacific entrance for the Panama Canal..
we anchored for a night when we arrived...and waited for our canal transit convoy orders from the canal authority which is on the next day morning..
most of us on board had never cross the Panama canal..so the atmosphere is full of excitement...
we were boarded by the pilots..the cable handlers and also their supervisors who will be the guys who handle the cables when we enter the 3 canal locks..and headed for the first canal lock, the Miraflores..
clearing the 2nd Miraflores lock...where literally our ship is climbing up to a higher ground
Miraflores had 2 sets of locks each side with 2 lock chambers enclosed by 3 lock gates...where it can accomodate 2 Panamax size ship on both side...
the Miraflores is also the entrance to the Miraflores Lake..which is enclosed by the 2 Pacific locks...
coming from the Pacific...this will be the first canal lock a vessel will enter and here you got the first glace of the intricate working of the lock systems..
we were escorted by two powerful tugs...each stationed forward and aft to assist our vessel in entering the canal and aligning itself straight to the canal entrance before the cable handlers and the locomotive took over..
the locomotive is used to guide and also to keep the vessel straight and steady in the lock chamber...
steel wires were sent from the locomotive to be tied up to the vessel and this is where the cable handlers played their roles
the Miraflores is also the entrance to the Miraflores Lake..which is enclosed by the 2 Pacific locks...
coming from the Pacific...this will be the first canal lock a vessel will enter and here you got the first glace of the intricate working of the lock systems..
we were escorted by two powerful tugs...each stationed forward and aft to assist our vessel in entering the canal and aligning itself straight to the canal entrance before the cable handlers and the locomotive took over..
the locomotive is used to guide and also to keep the vessel straight and steady in the lock chamber...
steel wires were sent from the locomotive to be tied up to the vessel and this is where the cable handlers played their roles
side by side at the Miraflores..further up is the Pedro Miguel lock before going thru the Culebra or Gaillard cut...a series of treacherous and narrow waterways..
we cleared the Miraflores lock and were inside the Miraflores lake..and we`re headed to the 2nd lock...the Pedro Miguel, a single chamber lock that completes the Pacific Locks..
from the Pedro Miguel we were ordered to come alongside at the buoy located 400 metres away from the lock..
we awaited for the southbound transit convoy to clear the Gaillard cut since the cut is narrow and the pilots insist to wait until the convoy cleared before we proceed up north
from the Pedro Miguel we were ordered to come alongside at the buoy located 400 metres away from the lock..
we awaited for the southbound transit convoy to clear the Gaillard cut since the cut is narrow and the pilots insist to wait until the convoy cleared before we proceed up north
a Panamax bulk carrier heading southbound..part of the southbound convoy preps itself to enter Pedro Miguel
Culebra or Gailllard cut is a waterways..cutting through the rugged Culebra mountain terrain...forming an artificial valley..connecting the Pedro Miguel Lock in the Pacific Side to Gatun Lake and then through Gatun Lock at the Atlantic Side...
rain had reduced our visibility....a normality in tropical weather conditions...
we pass thru 7 miles of winding waterways...with mountain rigde on both sides...before coming to the arms of the Chagres River and into the Gatun Lake....
we arrive at Gatun Lock just after sunset...
we proceed up river thru the Gaillard Cut..passing the Centennial Bridge...
that is the closest we can get to the lock chambers...you can put you hand on the walls...that is how close...
rain had reduced our visibility....a normality in tropical weather conditions...
we pass thru 7 miles of winding waterways...with mountain rigde on both sides...before coming to the arms of the Chagres River and into the Gatun Lake....
we arrive at Gatun Lock just after sunset...
the locomotive...or the mule as it is known...these are the workhorse of the Panama Canal...the machines that pulls the vessel in and steadies it while waiting for the water to rise up...
most of us are first timers through the canal...and everyone is excited to have their photos taken...because nobody knows when are we gonna go through here since due to our unexpected trade pattern...
again here...the intricate working of the canal took place...the pilots assisted by tugs drives the ship closer and closer to the lock....and then orders the cable handlers to tied the vessel to the locomotives...3 each on port and starboard bow and another 3 both on port and starboard quarter...
they move in unison....bringing the ship inside the first sets of lock chambers....
then they stop....the gates were closed and then...like magic the ship were lowered down like nothing happened....
if going thru Miraflores is like climbing up a mountain..then going thru Gatun is climbing down...provided that you are coming from the Pacific Sides...unless it is vice versa if its from the Atlantic
there are 3 sets of lock chamber each on both sides of the Gatun Lock....and both were occupied by ships...going towards the Atlantic....
they move in unison....bringing the ship inside the first sets of lock chambers....
then they stop....the gates were closed and then...like magic the ship were lowered down like nothing happened....
if going thru Miraflores is like climbing up a mountain..then going thru Gatun is climbing down...provided that you are coming from the Pacific Sides...unless it is vice versa if its from the Atlantic
there are 3 sets of lock chamber each on both sides of the Gatun Lock....and both were occupied by ships...going towards the Atlantic....
that is how close...the clearance...is a hand reach over to the gates....
maybe im stuck at checking at the vessel and the lock clearance for another god knows when....
-come to sea and see for yourself-
-come to sea and see for yourself-
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