4. Panama Anchorage

march 21st 2006 - 0830 pm

we have reached the entrance of the panama canal. the canal is stil out of eye sight, but i can see the land of Panama at a distance. a large number of ships are anchored here along different lines waiting for their turn to move into the canal.my ship will be moving in by 0730 hrs tomorrow.
the panama canal is a marvellous feat of engineering and i have heard that a number of lock gates are provided in the canal, to raise the ship from one level to another, since the ship has to pass through a lake, which is at a higher level than the two mighty oceans - the pacific and the atlantic. the canal is narrow with just enough space for one ship to move at a time, so it would be nice to be on the deck watching the ship maneuvering through it. but since i would be in the engine room, i doubt how much i could enjoy the sight. still, i hope to go to the deck at times and have a look, since i dont want to miss this once in a while event of my ship crossing the panama canal...