The Panama Canal
A night of smooth, easy sailing through calm seas brought us to the Gulf of Panama, an area of great biological abundance. Even before our morning update, a large group of pantropical spotted dolphins surrounded the ship, coming to the bow, surfing in our wake and leaping out of the water.
After breakfast, we watched the exceptional video “A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama” as an introduction to our Panama Canal transit, later in the day. Our already high level of anticipation was magnified for our crossing from ocean to ocean.
Midmorning found us at anchor in the Gulf of Panama just off of three small islands, Bona, Estiva and Otogue. Just as we saw earlier with the dolphins taking advantage of the rich biological brew of these waters, here we saw huge colonies of sea birds, also intent on making a living on the abundance. Magnificent frigatebirds, many with their striking red gular pouches inflated, brown pelicans, brown boobies and blue-footed boobies, just to name a few, perched on rock faces and trees, while others plied the waters in search of food.
Just after midday, Sea Voyager was on her way to the Sea Buoy, our check-in point for the Panama Canal. We were met there by many groups to do ship’s business. Immigration officials embarked to officially clear us into Panama, agents came with various items needed on board, and, eventually, our Panama Canal pilot came on board to take charge of the ship as we entered the navigational channel leading to the Miraflores Locks. In most places, pilots come on board ships in advisory roles, with the captain retaining command. However, in the Panama Canal, the pilot actually takes command of the ship.
Passing under the Bridge of the Americas, which connects the Pan American Highway, we approached the Miraflores locks. Passing through the two Miraflores locks and the Pedro Miguel lock, we reached the level of Gatun Lake, 85 feet. We continued through the famous Gaillard Cut to our eventual anchorage outside of the navigational channel.
A night of smooth, easy sailing through calm seas brought us to the Gulf of Panama, an area of great biological abundance. Even before our morning update, a large group of pantropical spotted dolphins surrounded the ship, coming to the bow, surfing in our wake and leaping out of the water.
After breakfast, we watched the exceptional video “A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama” as an introduction to our Panama Canal transit, later in the day. Our already high level of anticipation was magnified for our crossing from ocean to ocean.
Midmorning found us at anchor in the Gulf of Panama just off of three small islands, Bona, Estiva and Otogue. Just as we saw earlier with the dolphins taking advantage of the rich biological brew of these waters, here we saw huge colonies of sea birds, also intent on making a living on the abundance. Magnificent frigatebirds, many with their striking red gular pouches inflated, brown pelicans, brown boobies and blue-footed boobies, just to name a few, perched on rock faces and trees, while others plied the waters in search of food.
Just after midday, Sea Voyager was on her way to the Sea Buoy, our check-in point for the Panama Canal. We were met there by many groups to do ship’s business. Immigration officials embarked to officially clear us into Panama, agents came with various items needed on board, and, eventually, our Panama Canal pilot came on board to take charge of the ship as we entered the navigational channel leading to the Miraflores Locks. In most places, pilots come on board ships in advisory roles, with the captain retaining command. However, in the Panama Canal, the pilot actually takes command of the ship.
Passing under the Bridge of the Americas, which connects the Pan American Highway, we approached the Miraflores locks. Passing through the two Miraflores locks and the Pedro Miguel lock, we reached the level of Gatun Lake, 85 feet. We continued through the famous Gaillard Cut to our eventual anchorage outside of the navigational channel.
