[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1510603604573{margin-bottom: -50px !important;border-bottom-width: -50px !important;padding-bottom: -50px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1510604158590{margin-bottom: -100px !important;border-bottom-width: -100px !important;padding-bottom: -100px !important;}”]The Panama Canal is approximately 80 kilometers long between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This waterway was cut through one of narrowest saddles of the isthmus that joins North and South America.<\/p>\n
The Canal uses a system of locks -compartments with entrance and exit gates. The locks function as water lifts: they raise ships from sea level (the Pacific or the Atlantic) to the level of Gatun Lake (26 meters above sea level); ships then sail the channel through the Continental Divide.<\/p>\n
Each set of locks bears the name of the townsite where it was built: Gatun (on the Atlantic side), and Pedro Miguel and Miraflores (on the Pacific side).<\/p>\n
The lock chambers -steps– are 33.53 meters wide by 304.8 meters long. The maximum dimensions of ships that can transit the Canal are: 32.3 meters in beam; draft -their depth reach- 12 meters in Tropical Fresh Water; and 294.1 meters long (depending on the type of ship).<\/p>\n
The water used to raise and lower vessels in each set of locks comes from Gatun Lake by gravity; it comes into the locks through a system of main culverts that extend under the lock chambers from the sidewalls and the center wall.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1510604232049{margin-bottom: -120px !important;border-bottom-width: -120px !important;padding-bottom: -120px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Things that you need to know” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-lightbulb-o” border_width=”3″ add_icon=”true”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1510607682226{margin-bottom: -80px !important;border-bottom-width: -80px !important;padding-bottom: -80px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”3596″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
The Panama Canal was carved throught one of the narrowest and lowest saddled of the long, mountainous isthmus that joins the North and South American continents.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”3598″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
The ports of Balboa on the Pacific side and Cristobal on the Atlantic were major projects of construction and organization. Manzanillo Container Terminal, within Colon Harbor, is Latin America\u00b4s busiest port.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1510613102371{margin-bottom: -80px !important;border-bottom-width: -80px !important;padding-bottom: -80px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”3580″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
A vessel transiting from the Atlantic to the Pacific enters through one of the two openings at the Cristobal breakwater.<\/p>\n
This approach to the actual canal is 10 kilometers (5.4 nautical miles) long and 152.4 meters (500 feet) wide, running through a mangrove swamp that in most places is only a few feet above sea level. The extensive breakwater effectively shelters vessels from seas and chop.<\/p>\n
The Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal is located on the west side of Panama City. Approaching from sea the first thing one sees are ships anchored off, waiting for transit. The channel then passes west of the Perico Islands, the end of the Amador Causeway.<\/p>\n
Anchorages\/Refuges \u2022\u202f Providencia \u2022\u202f San Andres \u2022\u202f Coiba \u2022\u202f Perlas \u2022\u202f San Blas \u2022\u202f Portobello \u2022\u202f Linton \u2022\u202f Bocas[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”3600″ img_size=”large” alignment=”right”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
– Call Cristobel\/Balboa signal station channel 12 VHF<\/p>\n
-\u202fAnchor or go to a berth<\/p>\n
-\u202f Flats<\/p>\n
-Perico\/south side<\/p>\n
-Flamenco<\/p>\n
-Balboa<\/p>\n
-Shelter Bay<\/p>\n
-Club N\u00e1utico[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1510613112906{margin-bottom: -80px !important;border-bottom-width: -80px !important;padding-bottom: -80px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”3581″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
-Under 125 ft. You will be a \u201chand line\u201d unless you ask for and receive \u201csoft line\u201d status<\/p>\n
– Over 125 ft you are soft lines if are plastic you can ask for soft lines if you are a \u201csteel ship\u201d<\/p>\n
– Hard lines are wires from the locomotives througth the chock to your bit, they are 1 in wire rope and locomotives have a 35000 pull<\/p>\n
– Soft lines are supplied by the vessel and must be 1 inch or larger and 40ft. Long. They run from your bit out the chock through your chock to the bit[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”3601″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
Who:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>If you have not been measured by a canal admeasure in the last 30 days you must be measured.<\/p>\n Schedule in person or agent<\/p>\n What:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>The length overall as determined form the plans or by physical measurement. Up to 585 Panam\u00e1 canal net tons<\/p>\n Schedule measurement ASAP<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n If you are using lines have them aboard,\u00a0Ships documents,\u00a0Bits and chocks,\u00a0Wavier, Head must have an enclosed,\u00a0Master need not be present[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1510670646965{margin-bottom: -150px !important;border-bottom-width: -150px !important;padding-bottom: -150px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”3612″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Your are alone normally the only hand line<\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Four lines easy and safe<\/p>\n \u2022\u202f You may have to wait for a date<\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Canal will often insist if you want to go in a hurry<\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Up to 3 vessels with few restrictions on size<\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Requires you to be a more active participant in planning and maneuvering<\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Advisors don\u2019t coordinate well!!<\/p>\n \u2022\u202f God fenders and skilled crew<\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Going down is easy<\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Going up is best left to big steel vessels unless you have an experienced crew<\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Best but not something you can schedule<\/p>\n \u2022\u202f You must coordinate personally with the master of the vessel on the wall who goes \ufb01rst and at and what speed[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”3604″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1510671057628{margin-top: -60px !important;margin-bottom: -150px !important;border-top-width: -60px !important;border-bottom-width: -150px !important;padding-top: -60px !important;padding-bottom: -150px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Waiting” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-clock-o” border_width=”3″ add_icon=”true”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1510671116779{margin-bottom: -150px !important;border-bottom-width: -150px !important;padding-bottom: -150px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Any time but may mean overtime so check <\/span><\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Schedules are AM or PM at best <\/span><\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Does not require the master <\/span><\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Do need the lines and equipment<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n \u2022\u202f You can cancel do so if in doubt about anything 24 hour out a mechanical failure will cost you <\/span><\/p>\n \u2022\u202f You are a second class citizen<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Call early and often<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Visit the office<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n \u2022\u202f January to April high season <\/span><\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Carnival <\/span><\/p>\n \u2022\u202f Mothers day <\/span><\/p>\n \u2022\u202f November<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n You don\u2019t need a reason to delay your transit!<\/span><\/p>\n \u202f There are limited slips on the other side.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1510603604573{margin-bottom: -50px !important;border-bottom-width: -50px !important;padding-bottom: -50px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1510604158590{margin-bottom: -100px !important;border-bottom-width: -100px !important;padding-bottom: -100px !important;}”]The Panama Canal is approximately 80 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":13,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/gettingtopanama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3571"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/gettingtopanama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/gettingtopanama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/gettingtopanama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/gettingtopanama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3571"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/gettingtopanama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3571\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/gettingtopanama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/gettingtopanama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3571"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Choosing your Poison<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
\u202f– Center Chamber<\/span><\/h5>\n
– Rafted<\/span><\/h5>\n
– Side wall<\/span><\/h5>\n
\u00a0Along side a bigger vessel on the side wall<\/span><\/h5>\n
Tolls and Other Charges<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n
Tolls<\/span><\/h5>\n
\n
Add charges for<\/span><\/h5>\n
\n
Reserve for problems<\/span><\/h5>\n
\n
Plan on<\/span><\/h5>\n
\n
Admeasurement<\/span><\/h5>\n
Transit Schedule<\/span><\/h5>\n
Delays<\/span><\/h5>\n