Post Finals & Panama Canal Info

I am officially finished with exams. I took my last 2 today, and I am putting all school work behind me - I have 10 days left of the trip of a lifetime. Where has it gone?

Below is information sent to us about the Panama Canal. If you want to watch us go through on Thursday, December 11th, check out the link at the end:

The canal consists of artificial lakes, several improved and artificial channels, and three sets of locks. An additional artificial lake, Alajuela Lake (also known as Madden Lake), acts as a reservoir for the canal. The layout of the canal as seen by a ship passing from the Pacific end to the Atlantic is as follows:
•       From the buoyed entrance channel in the Gulf of Panama (Pacific side), ships travel 13.2 km (8.2 mi) up the channel to the Miraflores locks, passing under the Bridge of the Americas
•       The two-stage Miraflores lock system, including the approach wall, is 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) long, with a total lift of 16.5 meters (54 ft) at mid-tide
•       The artificial Miraflores Lake is the next stage, 1.7 kilometers (1.0 mi) long, and 16.5 metres (54 ft) above sea level
•       The single-stage Pedro Miguel lock, which is 1.4 kilometres (0.8 mi) long, is the last part of the ascent with a lift of 9.5 meters (31 ft) up to the main level of the canal
•       The Gaillard (Culebra) Cut slices 12.6 kilometres (7.8 mi) through the continental divide at an altitude of 26 metres (85 ft), and passes under the Centennial Bridge
•       The Chagres River (el Río Chagres), a natural waterway enhanced by the damming of Lake Gatún, runs west about 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi), merging into Lake Gatun
•       Gatun Lake, an artificial lake formed by the building of the Gatun Dam, carries vessels 24.2 kilometers (15.0 mi) across the isthmus
•       The Gatún locks, a three-stage flight of locks 1.9 kilometres (1.2 mi) long, drop ships back down to sea level
•       A 3.2 kilometer (2.0 mi) channel forms the approach to the locks from the Atlantic side
•       Limón Bay (Bahía Limón), a huge natural harbour, provides an anchorage for some ships awaiting passage, and runs 8.7 kilometres (5.4 mi) to the outer breakwater
Thus, total length of the canal is 47.9 miles (77.1 kilometres).
For the EXPLORER the Panama Canal transit will continue as follow:

Starting canal Transit 06:20 hrs

Mira Flores locks
Arriving 0830hrs
Departing 1000hrs

Pedro Miguel                                    
Arriving 1100hrs
Departing 1130hrs


Gatun locks
Arriving 1530hrs
Departing 1810hrs
ETD Cristobal 1900  hrs

Canal lock size
Initially the locks at Gatun had been designed as 28.5 metres wide. In 1908 the United States Navy requested that the locks should be increased to have a width of at least 36 metres which would allow for the passage of US naval ships. Eventually a compromise was made and the locks were to be constructed to a width of 33 meters. Each lock is 300 metres long with the walls ranging in thickness from 15 metres at the base to 3 metres at the top. The central wall between the parallel locks at Gatun has a thickness of 18 metres and stands in excess of 24 metres in height. The lock gates are made from steel and measures an average of 2 metres thick, 19.5 metres in length and stand 20 metres in height.
The maximum dimensions of a ship that can cross the Canal are: Length: 950 feet (289.6m); Beam: 106 feet (32.31m); height: 190 feet (57.91m); Draught: 36 feet 6 inches (12.04 m).

Live Cameras
These live cameras show operations at the Miraflores & Gatun Locks, as well as other points of interest in the Canal, can be accessed on the internet at:

http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html

This is written by my ship neighbor from his digital story just played on Sea TV. This is more true than I can say...

"When you see me cross over that line -
I may not look any taller, but I've grown.
I may not seem any smarter, but I've learned.
I may not act any different, but I've changed."