Tuesday, October 28, 2014

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

Friday, October 24, 2014

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

Thursday, October 23, 2014

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

Saturday, October 18, 2014

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

Friday, October 17, 2014

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

Monday, October 13, 2014

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

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

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

Monday, October 6, 2014

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


Thursday, October 2, 2014

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