2004 Panama Canal Cruise -- Panama Canal, Part I

The reason for this cruise, of course, was to transit the Panama Canal. The photos here are an extensive record of our (exhausting) day, spent in the Canal. This is truly a cross-roads of the world, with many, many ships in transit, and in port at either entrance. The engineering that made this canal is a marvel, and the setting is other-worldly. In some cases, the ships run alongside wild jungle, with no humans in sight.

Of course, we could not see or photograph a lot of our journey through the locks. We were fortunate that a container ship was locking right next to us. This allowed us to take pictures that show how the locking is done. It is quite an operation involving men and machines. They use rowboats to handle the lines to and from the ships, which is not as 21st-century as you may want. However, this method works, and has worked for nearly a century.

This page is part 1 of 2, since there are so many photos to view.

These pictures were taken primarily with our new Kodak DX6490, which we love. The 10x optical zoom is great, and the electronics do a fine job of automatic adjustment and flash operations.

NOTE that these photographs are Copyright©1998-2019 Robert and Sandra Swanson. I greatly appreciate people viewing the photos, but not stealing them. If someone is interested from a commercial point of view, please contact me.

CLICK ON THE THUMBNAIL IMAGES TO VIEW A LARGER IMAGE

Approaching the canal in the dark -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

More ships visible -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Many ships waiting near the Pacific entrance -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

More ships... -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

They just keep going on -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Sunrise over the Legend -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

More sunrise... -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

The pilot boat comes alongside -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Approach with Panama City in the background -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

The causeway was created from the vast amount of soil excavated to make the canal -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Many, many boats anchored near Panama City -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Security boat -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Better view of Panama City -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

The Legend flies the Panama flag -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Legend passengers watching as we approach the bridge at Balboa (PanAmerican Highway) -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Many, many boats moored near Balboa -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

More boats -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

More boats in the sunrise -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Airplane flies over the Legend -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Will the Legend fit under the bridge? Stay tuned... -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Closer... -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

And closer... -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Ah, we made it. -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Whew, that was a close one. -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Docks and shipyard north of bridge -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Really awesome facilities; and that is just one dock area -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Ship just behind us; this container ship will be our "companion" for the early locking -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Car carrier? -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Panama City in the distance -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Another dock -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Moving along the channel -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Pilot boats; note the security fences -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Approaching Miraflores Lock -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Milo viewing the action; their cabin was above ours -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Miraflores lock entrance; note the big arrow telling us to use the left-hand lock -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

The arrow has switched; the other ship will be our companion in the right-hand lock -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Our companion ship approaches Miraflores lock entrance -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

The rowboats (near tip of pier) are used to handle the lines from the ships -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

The electric locomotives ("mules") have already started to take our lines -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

The BIG ARROW -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Our companion ship gets much closer -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

A closeup of a mule -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

The container ship has a name... -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Line handling; the mules unreel steel cables that are attached to the ship -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

More cables are passed from the mules to the ship -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Used to be the American President Line, I think -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

More mules are attached to our stern -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Two mules connected to the bow help to steady the ship -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Container ship crew relax after attaching lines -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Containers are held in place by rigid rods -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Some of the containers are pressurized gas tanks -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

The lead mule -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

The lock door is open -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

The lock wall has the length markings; total 1050' -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

The bridge of our companion ship -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Lock gate closing (we are already rising in our lock) -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Lock gate opens after they are raised -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Mule "climbs the mountain" to the next lock -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Spectators at the lock -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Closeup of spectators at the lock -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Miraflores locks were completed in 1913 -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Entering the upper lock; tugboats wait to assist as the ship leaves -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

The ship provides a little "push" to completely enter the upper lock, and... -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

The gates close behind her -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

We have already risen high enough to see over the containers -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

The upper gate opens -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

And she leaves the upper lock -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

Dam and spillway beside the Miraflores locks; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1913 style -- 2004 Panama Canal Transit

2004 Panama Canal Cruise -- Panama Canal, Part I

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