Panama Canal Pictures

We transited the Panama Canal on Saturday for the first time.  The trip was just as planned;  steady and uneventful;  just the way us sailors like it!  

For most on board it was our first experience through this waterway.  We were lucky and sailed through during the day & stopped only for a few hours awaiting traffic at the Cucaracha tie up station.  Once southbound traffic cleared, we were off across the Continental Divide onto Gatun Lake and through the last series of locks.  Scenery was beautiful, we even saw an alligator or two.  The mass construction project of the new Panama Canal was also well underway.  I hope you enjoy a few pictures we took as we passed through...

Bridge of Americas, Pacific Entry to Panama Canal

Line Handlers and Bosun's Joining just under the bridge, all 17 line handlers and 2 Bosun's

Approaching the Miraflores Locks

Ok, are you ready, wait do we have enough men here??

Row boat to pull us through the locks...

Entering the first Northbound (Pacific-Atlantic) locks "Miraflores"

Rowboat chickened out!

Locomotives "Mules" that hook up with steel cables and hold us in position in the locks, 4 on each end with 2 per side

Good work if you can get it!

In Position Lock 1 Miraflores

Construction of the "New" canal

Pedro Miguel Locks

Getting ready to tie on the mules for the Pedro Miguel Locks

Just left the Pedro Miguel Locks

Centennial Bridge

Cucaracha Tie Up station awaiting traffic

Car Carrier that passed while we were waiting

Departing Cucaracha

Entrance to the last set of locks "Gatun"

And of course at the last locks "Gatun" it's canal weather... "RAIN"

Entering Gatun, mules holding us in place

Keeping attached as we go down

Panama Canal Tomorrow

Tomorrow morning bright and early we transit the Panama Canal.  We will pass underneath the Bridge of Americas as day breaks and be at the Miraflores locks shortly after.  You can follow us on the webcams from The Panama Canal Website, first locks cam here : 

http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html?cam=MirafloresHi

Should be there around 7 am EDT.

Back in the Internet Zone....

We exited the footprint for our Internet coverage a few days back and are sorry we could not keep you guys posted!  Tonight is a milestone for the crew of the Algoma Mariner, it's our last night on the Pacific Ocean.  We will anchor tomorrow afternoon on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal.  While there waiting our turn to transit, we will bunker and take on supplies to ready for the last leg of our journey, and that's to get this ship back to Canada.

Here is a few random pics we took along the way, stay tuned for some exciting pictures from the canal transit...

Last Sunset on the Pacific

 

 

 

 

 

Some random shots along the way from yard to sea..

I don't think he is impressed with the mess in his office!!

Hey wait for me!!  The long walk to lunch...

 

Paperwork never hides from anyone...

A night out with our "Tour Guide" and the best damn steel inspector their ever was...

Stringing Pearls at the "Pearl Market"  somebody is getting pearls...

I will leave this to your imagination...

That's one way to get ashore...

John Kerbrat, One of the Project Team Leaders

Markku, from Deltamarin Design team of Finland

The Happy Crew, Project Team, and Lloyds Surveyors

Sitting at Anchor in Daveo, waiting for our turn for bunkers

2nd Engineer Martin, with ship in the background

Street outside our hotel

Friggin' Paparazzi found the Captain again!!

OK that's gotta be photoshop!!  Captain & C/E in coveralls together!!

A friendly "QC" guy from the yard

Only noticed the no pictures sign after....Oh well...

OK Bernie I counted to 10 and now I'm coming to find you...

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Roland, holding her in place, don't let go now...

 

Leaving Chengxi

Rolling across the Pacific