Cargo Train China - Spain - Competition for the cargo ships and the Panama Canal?

Cargo Train China Spain - Competition for the cargo ships and the Panama Canal? 



A freight train that started in eastern China arrived after three weeks of travel in the Spanish capital Madrid on Tuesday. The 40 wagons transported on the more than 13,000 kilometer journey commodities like toys for kids and tools.

Rail transport is ten days faster than a carriage of cargo by sea, said the Spanish Ministry of Transport. The governor of east China's Zhejiang Province, Li Qiang, expressed in Madrid hopes to build " a new Silk Road ". Due to different track widths cars had to be reloaded three times. So far, about 80 percent of global freight runs due to the technical and bureaucratic problems in railway transport by ship.

According to some calculations the transport by rail is about twice as expensive then by ship when calculating the cost per container. At a cost and time of transportation by freight train varies between marine and air transport.

Celebrity Infinity Panama Canal Transit

In the attached images we see the
GTS Celebrity Infinity, a Millennium Class cruise ship owned and operated by Celebrity Cruises with a capacity of 2,170 passengers and 999 crew members, in the Miraflores Locks in the morning and in the other image in the Gatung Locks in the afternoon, in her north bound Panama Canal transit, today November 29 2014.

GTS Celebrity Infinity - Gatun Locks

Celebrity Infinity Panama Canal Transit - Miraflores Locks

Lake Gatún reaches maximum level

La Prensa reports here: Lake Gatún has reached its maximum operating level and Lake Alajuela will reach it in the next few days, reported athe Panama Canal Authority (ACP). The maximum operating level of Lake Gatún is 87.50 feet above sea level and that of Alajuela is 252 feet.

Container Ship near Gamboa

Would huge Nicaragua canal be win for China?

CNN reports here: Would huge Nicaragua canal be win for China?

Norwegian Star Gatun Locks

In the attached pictures we see the Norwegian Star cruise ship in the Gatun Locks, once as seen from the cruise ships onboard live cam and in the second from the the Gatun Locks live cams at the same moment, today November 21 2014 in her south bound Panama Canal transit.

seen from the cruise ships onboard live cam

The Norwegian Star cruise ship in the Gatun Locks

MS Legend of the Seas Cruise Ship

Here we see the MS Legend of the Seas cruise ship with a Capacity of 2,076 passengers and 720 crew, owned by the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, entering the Miraflores Locks in her south bound Panama Canaal transit, today November 20 2014.

Legend of the Seas Cruise Ship entering the Miraflores Locks

Seven Seas Mariner Panama Canal

In the attached image we see the Seven Seas Mariner cruise ship for Regent Seven Seas Cruises (formerly Radisson Seven Seas Cruises) with a Capacity of 700 passengers and 445 Crew, entering the Miraflores Locks in her south bound Panama Canal transit, today November 8th 2014.

Seven Seas Mariner entering the Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal

Corall Princess Cruise Ship Gatun Locks

In the attached images we see the Corall Princess Cruise Ship in her partial Panama Canal transit in the Gatun Locks together with the third new Canal Lock Door that is transported from Colon to Miraflores, today November 4th 2014.

Corall Princess Cruise Ship

Corall Princess Cruise Ship and New Canal Lock Door

Corall Princess Cruise Ship - Gatun Locks view from the onboard Live Cam

Here we see the same cruise ship again in the afternoon
heading back out to the Atlantic Ocean

Island Princess Panama Canal

In the attached images we see the cruise ship Island Princess in her south bound Panama Canal transit in the Pedro Miguel Locks, today November 2 2014.

Island Princess Panama Canal

Island Princess, Pedro Miguel Locks, Panama Canal

MS Veendam Cruise Ship Panama Canal

In the attached image we see the MS Veendam, one of Holland America Line's Cruise ships, named for the capital of Northern Netherlands's peat colonies, entering the Miraflores Locks in her south bound Panama Canal transit, today October 28 2014.

MS Veendam Cruise ship entering the Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal

Norwegian Star Panama Canal

In the attached image we see the Norwegian Star cruise ship behind a container cargo ship on her south bound Panama Canal transit in the Miraflores Locks, today, October 24 2014.

Norwegian Star Panama Canal

New Panama Canal Lock Doors Transit

In the attached images we see the transit of the first lock from Colon to the Pacific side of the Panama Canal. The new gigantic lock doors (with weights between 1.900t and 4.300t and measuring 58,7m x 10m x 34,7m) will be installed in the new third set of locks accommodating the huge post Panamax cargo ships. The images where taken on October 22 around noon in the area of Gamboa.

APC Press Releases

First Gate for the New Locks in the Pacific Transits the Panama Canal

Date: 24-OCT-2014

PANAMA CITY, Panama, October 22, 2014 - The first gate for the new locks in the Pacific side began transit Wednesday morning through the Panama Canal, signaling another historic milestone in the progress of the Expansion Program.

The gate transits the waterway aboard the Crowley 455-4 barge from the Atlantic temporary dock to the Pacific, assisted by two Panama Canal tugs. It completed its transit through Gatun Locks in the Atlantic this morning.

The gate will continue its transit throughout the day, arriving at Pedro Miguel and Miraflores Locks later this afternoon. It will then be transferred to the construction site of the new locks in the Pacific.

The first gate to be transferred to the Pacific side is the smallest, standing 22 meters tall and weighing 2,300 tons.

The height of each gate depends on its position inside the lock chambers. The tallest ones (33 meters high) will be located in lock head four facing the Pacific Ocean due to the tidal change in the area.


The height of the tallest gate can be compared to an 11-story building. The gates weigh on average 3,400 tons.

Since August 2013, the gates have been arriving in staggered shipments from Italy on a Post-Panamax vessel to a temporary dock in the Atlantic side. The first shipment arrived on August 20, 2013. The second and third shipment arrived on June 10, 2014 and September 7, 2014, respectively. The last shipment has already departed from Italy and is expected to arrive in November 2014.

The new locks will have 16 rolling gates, eight in the Pacific and eight in the Atlantic. The gates were fabricated in Italy by Cimolai SpA.

During the next two months, the remaining seven gates that belong to the new locks in the Pacific will be transiting one by one through the Panama Canal.

The Panama Canal Expansion is 80 percent complete. It consists on the construction of a third lane of traffic allowing the passage of bigger vessels, which will double the Canal's capacity and have an important impact on world maritime trade.

About the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)
The ACP is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the ACP is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors. For more information, please refer to the ACP's website: http://www.pancanal.com/. You can also follow us on Twitter @thepanamacanal. 

New Panama Canal Lock Doors Transit

New Panama Canal Lock Doors Transit

Panama Canal Expansion Works

In these images we see the Panama Canal Expansion Works in progress pictures where taken on October 14th 2014. We see the huge new lock doors that where built in Italy and are almost ready to be installed in their respective locations.

Panama Canal Expansion Works

Panama Canal Expansion Works - New Lock Doors

CMA CGM Sambhar Container Cargo Ship

In the attached images we see the CMA CGM Sambhar Container Cargo Ship on the 14th of October in the Gatun Locks on its north bound Panama Canal transit.

CMA CGM Sambhar Container Cargo Ship

CMA CGM Sambhar Container Cargo Ship

Norwegian Pearl Panama Canal

Here we see the Norwegian Pearl cruise ship on her north bound Panama Canal transit, just leaving the Gatun Locks, today on a rainy October day. 13.10.2014.

Norwegian Pearl, Gatun Locks,  Panama Canal

Island Princess Panama Canal

In these images we see the Island Princess cruise ship in the Miraflores locks in her north bound Panama Canal transit, one image shows the view from the Miraflores Locks visitorsa center and the other taken at the same time the view from the cruise ships onboard live cam taken today October 7 2014.

Island Princess, Miraflores Locks,  Panama Canal

Island Princess Cruise Ship Live Cam View

Norwegian Jewel Gatun Locks

In the attached images we see the Norwegian Jewel cruise ship in her north bound Panama Canal transit in the Gatun Locks, today October 6 2014.

Norwegian Jewel Cruise Ship Live Cam View - Gatun Locks

Norwegian Jewel in the Gatun Locks of the Panama Canal

Coral Princess Panama Canal

In these images we see the Coral Princess  cruise ship arriving at the Miraflores Locks, next heading for the culebra cut and last but not least in the Gatun Locks, for her north bound Panama Canal transit today October 2 2014. An early start for this years cruise ship season.

Coral Princess Panama Canal

Entering the Culebra Cut

The Cruise ship in the Gatun Locks

View from Cruise ships on board live cam - Gatun Locks

MS Regatta Cruise Ship

In the attached image we see the MS Regatta R class cruise ship, owned and operated by Oceania Cruises, in her north bound Panama Canal transit, in the Miraflores Locks, today September 09 2014.

MS Regatta Cruise Ship

Panama Canal celebrates 100 Years of operation

The Panama Canal Centennial: In this image we see the grain cargo ship Lowlands Kansar in the Miraflores Locks, today August 15th the day the Panama Canal celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Panama Canal celebrates 100 Years of operation

100 Years Panama Canal

The Panama Canal celebrates its 100th anniversary on August 15 2014.

Ocean Dream Cruise Ship

The Ocean Dream (formerly Tropicale, Costa Tropicale and Pacific Star) cruise ship, built in 1981 with a capacity of: 1,422 passengers, is seen here on her north bound Panama Canal transit entering the Pedro Miguel Locks and the Panama Canal expansions works in progress in the background, on August 6 2014, the month Panama celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Panama Canal.

Ocean Dream Cruise Ship

Dawn Princess Panama Canal

In this image we see the Dawn Princess cruise ship in her south bound Panama Canal transit today evening in the Miraflores Locks August 1 2014. One image is from the Panama Canal live cam and the second from the cruise ships live cam at the same moment.

Dawn Princess Panama Canal

VEHICLES CARRIER GARNET LEADER, MARINA ACE, HEROIC ACE AND THE TALIA

HERE WE SEE 4 VEHICLES CARRIERS AT THE SAME TIME: THE GARNET LEADER, MARINA ACE, HEROIC ACE AND THE TALIA IN AND APPROACHING THE MIRAFLORES LOCKS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SOUTH BOUND PANAMA CANAL TRANSITS TODAY IN THE EVENING SUNSET OF  JULY 8TH 2014.

GARNET LEADER, MARINA ACE, HEROIC ACE AND THE TALIA

MS Asuka II Cruise Ship Panama Canal

In this image we see the MS Asuka II, a cruise ship owned and operated by Nippon Yusen Kaisha, entering the Gatun Locks in her south bound Panama Canal transit, on a rainy Saturday, June 7th 2014. This transit is the only big cruise ship this month as the cruise ship season is over already.

MS Asuka II Cruise Ship entering the Gatun Locks

MS Asuka 2 Cruise Ship Panama Canal

Crystal Symphony Cruise Ship Panama Canal

In these images we see the Crystal Symphony Cruise Ship with a capacity of 922 passengers and 545 crew members in her north bound Panama Canal transit, today May 23 2014. One image is from the cruise ships onboard live cam as she enters the Miraflores locks and the other one shows the cruiser at the same time seen from the Miraflores live cam.

Crystal Symphony Cruise Ship Panama Canal

Crystal Symphony Cruise Ship Panama Canal

Norwegian Sun Panama Canal

In these images we see the Norwegian Sun cruise ship entering the Pedro Miguel Locks in her south bound Panama Canal transit today May 2 2014. One image is from the ships onboard live cam and at the same moment the other one from the Panama Canal Live Cam.

Norwegian Sun entering the Pedro Miguel Locks

Norwegian Sun Cruise Ship Panama Canal

MS Westerdam - Vista Class Cruise Ship

In this image we see the MS Westerdam, a Vista Class cruise ship owned by Holland America Line with a capacity of 1848 passengers and 800 crew in her south bound Panama Canal transit entering the Gatun Locks today April 19 2014.

MS Westerdam - Cruise Ship - Panama Canal - In the morning

MS Westerdam - Cruise Ship - Entering the Pedro Miguel Locks at around 3:45PM

MS Westerdam - leaving the Pedro Miguel Locks at around 4:24PM,
see the on going Panama Canal expansion works in the background

MS Legend of the Seas Panama Canal

In this image we see the MS Legend of the Seas, a Vision Class cruise ships with a capacity of 2076 passengers and 720 crew members in her north bound Panama Canal transit in the Miraflores Locks, today April 11 2014. In front on the right side is the container cargo ship MSC Vaishnavi.

MS Legend of the Seas Panama Canal

MS Queen Victoria Panama Canal

Here we see the MS Queen Victoria, a cruise ship operated by the Cunard Line, with a capacity of 2,014 passengers and 900 crew members on her north bound Panama Canal transite entering the Gatun Locks, today April 10 2014.

MS Queen Victoria Panama Canal

msy Wind Spirit Panama Canal

In this image we see the The msy Wind Spirit, a motor sailing yacht, sailing as a cruise ship for Windstar Cruises. She is one of an unusual class of only three vessels (msy Wind Star, msy Wind Spirit and msy Wind Song), designed as a modern cruise ship but carrying an elaborate system of computer-controlled sails on four masts with a capacity 148 passengers and 88 crew. She is at this moment in the upper chamber of the Miraflores locks in her north bound Panama Canal transit, today April 5 2014. BTW that is the day the Metro in Panama is inaugurating.

msy Wind Spirit Panama Canal

Island Princess approaching the Pedro Miguel Locks

Here we see the Island Princess, a cruise ship for the Princess Cruises line. She is the sister ship to Coral Princess and together they are the only Panamax ships in Princess's fleet.  The Island Princess has a capacity of 1970 passengers and 900 crew members. In one image we see the image froom the cruise ships live cam as se approaches the Pedro Miguel Locks and in the second image we see the other wee with the Locks and the cruise ship and in the background the ongoing Panama Canal expansion works. Images taken today March 26 2014.

Island Princess approaching the Pedro Miguel Locks

Island Princess cruise ships live cam view approaching the Pedro Miguel Locks