Approaching Panama Canal

As we approached the canal, we anchored off shore for the ship to be 'bunkered' ......fuelled. This is a process whereby a fuel barge comes out to the ship to fuel it up. Announcements are given several times about the process and no smoking is allowed, period! The area where the barge will tie up alongside is closed off and people are again warned about smoking. All it would take is one tiny spark in the right direction. I'd gone down to deck 4 to watch the barge come alongside, by now it's dark, and my son Paul joined me so we took a walk. Just past the roped off area is a fellow having a beer and a smoke! It sort of shocked us after all the warnings, so we turned back after hearing a few other passers by say, he is smoking, but no one said anything! So, my son very diplomatically went over to the guy and said, You may not have heard the announcement, but no smoking is allowed while we fuel up. He didn't say anything, but immediately put out the cigarette!

In the morning we were up at 6:45 in order not to miss any of the canal crossing. Our ships anchor was lifted and we were off, dead slow for our journey through. There were dozens of ships and freighters waiting there turn to go, anchored offshore. Going through the canal takes about 8 hours in all. We were so excited to see the new canal opened which was still a work I. Progress when we cruised east to west through the canal two years prior. Here are some photos of our approach and trip through. You will see some huge container ships in the opposite lock that we followed through in some shots. As well, the bridge in one of the photos is called Bridge of the Americas. It is a bridge between north and South America. This bridge was completed and opened in 1962 and was the only one linking the two continents at that time. It is estimated the traffic to be about 35,000 vehicles a day. Accidents are rife. In 2004 a new bridge was built crossing the Panama Canal to supplement the overcrowded Bridge of the Americas. This one was named the Centennial Bridge with six lanes crossing the Culebra Cut closest to the Pedro Miguel locks. It is 1,052 metres in length. Now in the construction stage is a third bridge known as the Atlantic Bridge. It will be 1,050 metres in length when completed.