4:30 a.m. and the Bridge beckons; we are making our approach to the Canal, past anchored vessels awaiting their ‘slot’ for transit.  The VHF radio is a constant ‘chatter’, instructions to us and other vessels from Cristobal control, we have to be passing the breakwaters at 6 a.m., ready to receive Boarding officials, Immigration officers, Inspectors and, last but not least, a pilot. 

We have a rigorous inspection, the purpose of which is to confirm we comply with Canal regulations and while this is going on we make 4 knots slowly down the channel.  All is well and we are assigned 16Z, the ‘Z’ denoting we are a southbound vessel.  Ahead of us, a large container ship leaves Cristobal Container terminal and slips into the channel ahead of us; we will follow her for a while, she will use the new locks, being far too large to fit into the ‘old’ ones. 

This was to be my last canal transit, in 2020 we will go south, around South America and through the Magellan Straits.  Somewhat ‘tongue in cheek’ I had asked the Canal Authorities if I could possibly use one of the new locks for this final transit, unfortunately this was not to be, they were far too busy putting larger ships through them.  I did however receive and Honorary Canal pilot certificate and cap to mark the occasion.

We progress south towards the first set of locks, Gatun.  It is in fact a ‘flight’; one enters the lower chamber, are pumped up to the 2nd chamber and then to the 3rd, thus being level with Gatun lake, a total of 85 feet up.

Then into Gatun Lake, we have to anchor here, there are some late north-bound ships coming our way and some sections of the canal are too narrow to pass.  Eventually we leave the anchorage and make our way across the lake, water and jungle, that’s all one sees.  We are making speed to meet the last north-bound ship at Gamboa, before the narrow Culebra Cut.

We make the turn into the ‘cut’, we are #1 in a convoy of Cruise ships, 3 more follow us.  We weave our way through the narrow passage, under Centennial Bridge and the next set (of 2) locks are ahead.  These will take us the 85 feet down to the Pacific.

Once in the Pacific, we disembark our officials and pilots, we’re making for an anchorage off Panama City, Fuerta Amador lies an isthmus jutting out parallel to the canal bouyage.

The transit has taken us 11 hours and by 6 p.m. we are anchored off the marina to which we will tender.  We stay the night and the entire next day.