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Boarding the fully laden neopanamax LPG carrier KODAIJISAN as she passes Gamboa (half way the transit, prior to enter Culebra Cut) during her southbound transit. Her transit started in Cristobal very early in the morning, the crew, especially her Master has been awake for... 2/×
...several hours, and will be up for a few more, tending to everything related to the transit and working beside the pilot. Transiting the Panama Canal could be an extenuating task, one in which fatigue can affect performance.
Years ago a Pilot conducted a study to determine

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This is the port terminal on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal which is allegedly contolled by PRC through a Hong Kong based company. This terminal and another one located on the Caribbean entrance of the canal has been operated by Hutchinson Whampoa or its subsidiary, 2/×
...Panama Ports. Here is the one in Cristobal, also operated by Panama Ports under a concesion awarded in 1997.
Ships entering the terminal need to use the access chanels to the Panama Canal on either side. It is the Panama Canal Authorithy which grants permmisions and

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I will try briefly to shed some light on why the Panama Canal was turned over to the Republic of Panama while the "ONE MISSION" departs a waiting mooring station to continue her transit northbound.
Panama got its independence from Spain in 1821 and the joined Colombia. 2/x
During the period that Panama was part of Colombia, the Panamanians felt neglected by the Colombian authorities. Internal wars and the physical isolation caused by the Darien jungle caused the Panamanians to think about breaking apart from Colombia. Meanwhile, the U.S. had

1. Let's talk a bit about the importance of ship's hydrodinamics in a not too technichal manner.
The larger the ship is, the greater the effects of the hydrodinamics forces that come into play, especially when in restricted waters. 2. In a narrow channel the stern of the ship is "pulled" by the bank that is closer to her (normally her starboard side) while her bow is "pushed" away from the bank. This is due to a difference in pressure (bow and stern) as the water flows between the ship and the bank.

Some facts to take into consideration when piloting megacontainer ships.
1. Size matters: SHANGHAI EXPRESS, 366.45m long x 48.26m wide. She has a draft (the part of it under the water) of 12.8m, in a 17m channel depth, leaving (ukc) clearance under the keel 2. .(deepest point submerged) of roughly 3m. The less the UKC, the less maneouvrable the ship becomes. A phenomenon called "squat", which is the sinking of the stern also occurs (and increase) as the ship's speed increases.

1. How does one stop a mega container ship when moving in restricted waters if an engine and rudder failure occurs?
Short answer: one can't. 2. A mega container can be just as large as some of the tallest building in any major city, 360+m. It can weigh over 100K tons, and when gathering speed, even minimum speed, develops so much momentum as it moves through the water that it takes large distance to come to a stop...

Short Sea Story
In the early 90s I sailed on a bulk carrier named the Golden Hope. The ship would normally load grain from terminals along the Mississippi t for ports in South America.
On the return trips we would load whatever cargo they could find back to the USA. During one of those voyages back to the USA, we were a day or two from Tampa Fla, our next port of call, when the 3rd mate sighted a nice pleasure boat adrift, with people aboard. Apparently the boat's engine was inoperational.
Our Captain was informed and he decided to