This sign speaks volumes about differing national style, I believe. In the US, hyperbole would scream out danger; here a benign-looking reptile is announced as “possibly present.”
I made arrangements for a boat ride on the Canal with the Other company, and they cancelled on me. I could have had this!!! And on a historic vessel once used by Al Capone and John Wayne. Separately. Gotta research this.
Talofa happened past, headed for the Caribbean. Be friends on Facebook. She’s 97′ loa, started in 1928.
Maintenance gets done on the Canal between ships.
Chiquita Schweiz is one of about 14,000 transits annually.
This gate, like all 46 gates in the system, is original and built in 1914, weighing 690 tons! Manufactured in Pittsburgh. Gates for the new canal are being fabricated in Italy.
That IS a monkey’s fist on the heaving line on this electric mule aka locomotive. Built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Click here for other clients. The Canal has a hundred of these, whose purpose it NOT to tow, only to keep the vessel centered by
means of these cables. The largest vessels are escorted by eight of these $2 million mules.
If you need to imagine “panamax,” look at these fotos. Where wall ends and hull begins is hard to tell. Keeping a 105′ beam vessel from hitting the sides of a 106′ wide chamber . . . hence the mules.
Here’s another view of “panamax.” Zim Beijing, a sixth boro regular, today spent $497,000 and change just for the eight-hour transit.
Behind this ridge lies the work site of the expanded locks, where work
Yesterday I caught what looked like a rushing clous of dust . . . a mystery until I heard the blast.
All fotos by Will Van Dorp, who gallivants on to another place early tomorrow.
A final thought: Miroflores Locks Visitor Center stems from a realization by the government here that shipping attracts tourists. If any of you have the ear of decision makers in New york, could you plant in their ear the possibility of creating a visitor center/observation deck along the KVK to accommodate tourists who wish to see and learn about the maritime activities of the greatest port on the East Coast . . . as those same politicians like to call it. And it should be where the shipping traffic is densest and closest . . . along the KVK. New York, IMHO, has surely neglected this. If you want me to help pitch the idea, get in touch.
xx
6 comments
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March 15, 2012 at 5:39 pm
eastriver
Monkey’s fists built by Kawasaki… how exotic!
Wonderful bunch of posts — thanks.
March 15, 2012 at 10:20 pm
bowsprite
“Chiquita Schweiz” the more exotic Swiss Miss.
There IS one on the KV; it’s called “Blue”.
March 16, 2012 at 3:46 am
David Hindin
Love the Zim Beijing stern shot. Easy definition for Panamax beam:13 containers across the stern (8ftx13=104 ft).
Please bring back a snap of a “Ten cuidado con los tiburones” or the equivalent sign from the Atlantic side. I have memories of these on the beach and in the water at Fort Sherman while attending a 1966 course at the School of the Americas. Fort Sherman is at Toro Point at the Atlantic (northern) end of the Panama Canal, on the western bank of the Canal directly opposite Colón (which is on the eastern bank). Thanks
March 16, 2012 at 4:02 am
David Hindin
In our continuing small world geography lesson, some of those containers on Zim Beijing may be coming through the Golden Gate on 24 March as she heads for Oakland:
http://www.zim.com/VoyageDetails.aspx?id=170&l=4&voyNum=30&vesName=Zim+Beijing&vesCode=ZXB&pVoyNum=
Vessel Name: Zim Beijing Zim Voyage No.: 30
Port Code Port name Direction Local Arrival Local Departure
USSAV Savannah (Ga) W 01-Mar-2012 02-Mar-2012
USNYC New York (Ny) W 03-Mar-2012 05-Mar-2012
CAHFX Halifax (Ns) W 06-Mar-2012 07-Mar-2012
JMKST Kingston W 11-Mar-2012 13-Mar-2012
PAPAN Panama Canal W 14-Mar-2012 15-Mar-2012
USLAX Los Angeles (Ca W 22-Mar-2012 23-Mar-2012
USOAK Oakland (Ca) W 24-Mar-2012 24-Mar-2012
RUVTC Vostochnyy E 07-Apr-2012 08-Apr-2012
CNNGB Ningbo (Zj) E 11-Apr-2012 12-Apr-2012
CNSNH Shanghai (Sh) E 12-Apr-2012 13-Apr-2012
KRPUS Pusan E 14-Apr-2012 15-Apr-2012
PABLB Balboa E 04-May-2012 05-May-2012
PAPAN Panama Canal E 05-May-2012 05-May-2012
JMKST Kingston E 06-May-2012 07-May-2012
USSAV Savannah (Ga) E 10-May-2012 11-May-2012
This is great fun. Tnx
February 3, 2015 at 3:44 am
Rhythms 3 | Toxicstruggles
[…] Washington left today, following in the wake of Lia. Zim Beijing came in; I’m guessing “my” Bebedouro will leave soon, and the pace of ins-outs […]
June 24, 2015 at 4:58 am
Rhythms 3 | Seriousvictories
[…] Washington left today, following in the wake of Lia. Zim Beijing came in; I’m guessing “my” Bebedouro will leave soon, and the pace of ins-outs […]