Seacruise Posted December 9, 2010 #1 Share Posted December 9, 2010 I have learned that early this morning that the Panama Canal has been closed till further notice due to weather. I have been posting the Panama Canal schedule for years and never seen this. There are currently 3 ships in Miraflores Locks that have been there since early this morning. The current backlog is huge. Norwegian Star is due W/B tomorrow and no idea what will happen with her. It will be interesting to see what happens. Phil Seacruise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
more cruises Posted December 9, 2010 #2 Share Posted December 9, 2010 What kind of weather is causing the issue? Doesn't the canal have time quotas they have to meet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got Tequila? Posted December 9, 2010 #3 Share Posted December 9, 2010 What kind of weather is causing the issue? Doesn't the canal have time quotas they have to meet? I've read that it has been closed because of heavy rains, first time it's had to closed in 20 years. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azure Moon Posted December 9, 2010 #4 Share Posted December 9, 2010 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11953800 Heavy rain caused the closing, according to this BBC article. Oops! You beat me to it :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klingoncruiser Posted December 9, 2010 #5 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Looks like the La Nina is really creating trouble in many places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seacruise Posted December 9, 2010 Author #6 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Looks like it is going to be awhile. They have even turned the lights off for Gatun Locks tonight. I see Gatun River has flooded her banks and roads are closed to Colon. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got Tequila? Posted December 9, 2010 #7 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Looks like it is going to be awhile. They have even turned the lights off for Gatun Locks tonight. I see Gatun River has flooded her banks and roads are closed to Colon. Phil Phil Just read on Sea cruise that the canal has been closed on December 12th.....3 days from now:eek::confused::eek: I think someone has their dates a bit off...LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedish weave Posted December 9, 2010 #8 Share Posted December 9, 2010 The webcam on the Star shows a lot of people on the front deck and it looks like they are approaching the Gatun locks. It is apparently still raining there, also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globaliser Posted December 9, 2010 #9 Share Posted December 9, 2010 I have learned that early this morning that the Panama Canal has been closed till further notice due to weather."Until further notice" was only a few hours. The canal authorities needed to let some water run out of the lakes. The canal was re-opened in time for traffic this morning (Thursday). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedish weave Posted December 9, 2010 #10 Share Posted December 9, 2010 The latest webcam shot shows the Star inside the locks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seacruise Posted December 9, 2010 Author #11 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Phil Just read on Sea cruise that the canal has been closed on December 12th.....3 days from now:eek::confused::eek: I think someone has their dates a bit off...LOL That would be me.... I had a headache yesterday and it is still with me this morning. Nothing is touching it and I have the dentist this morning as well, yea..... I saw this mistake this morning and went oh goody. It is nice to see the canal open again all be it slightly behind for the Norwegian Star. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seacruise Posted December 9, 2010 Author #12 Share Posted December 9, 2010 "Until further notice" was only a few hours. The canal authorities needed to let some water run out of the lakes. The canal was re-opened in time for traffic this morning (Thursday). The canal was closed more than a "few hours". It was closed mid morning yesterday till just after 5 AM this morning. The canal operates 24/7. I have never seen the the Authority turn off the lights at Gatun locks. It looked so weird last night seeing that just before I went to bed. It will be several days before the back log is cleared up. Even with the Norwegian Star having a reservation she is still several hours behind her transit. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedish weave Posted December 9, 2010 #13 Share Posted December 9, 2010 The canal was closed more than a "few hours". It was closed mid morning yesterday till just after 5 AM this morning. The canal operates 24/7. I have never seen the the Authority turn off the lights at Gatun locks. It looked so weird last night seeing that just before I went to bed. It will be several days before the back log is cleared up. Even with the Norwegian Star having a reservation she is still several hours behind her transit. Phil How many hours behind is the Star ?? I thought all cruise ships were scheduled for daylight transit only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globaliser Posted December 9, 2010 #14 Share Posted December 9, 2010 The canal was closed more than a "few hours".It was a few hours rather than a few days or a few weeks, which is "closed till further notice" could be taken to mean. The latter meaning might cause people to wonder whether their Panama Canal cruise next week, or towards the end of this month, might be affected. This being CC, some members have already been worrying about that on some threads. This closure was nothing like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seacruise Posted December 9, 2010 Author #15 Share Posted December 9, 2010 It was a few hours rather than a few days or a few weeks, which is "closed till further notice" could be taken to mean. The latter meaning might cause people to wonder whether their Panama Canal cruise next week, or towards the end of this month, might be affected. This being CC, some members have already been worrying about that on some threads. This closure was nothing like that. No where did I say it was a few days or a few weeks, those are your words. I posted "closed till further notice", which is exactly what it was. I stand by what I posted. The weather in Panama is not looking good for the next 7-10 days and another storm is just off shore. More rain will just compound the current problems. Madden Dam exceeded it's maximum level yesterday and the dam was opened to allow a run off from the lake this in turn caused strong currents at Gamboa and floating islands of debris. This caused a problem for navigation on the lake and thus the canal was closed. The debris was evident this morning as Norwegian Star approached Gamboa. While the Norwegian Star was late arriving at Gatun Locks this morning it has made up some time so far. I also noticed more debris near Pedro Miguel locks as Norwegian Star approached. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SakeDad Posted December 9, 2010 #16 Share Posted December 9, 2010 No where did I say it was a few days or a few weeks, those are your words. I posted "closed till further notice", which is exactly what it was. I stand by what I posted. The weather in Panama is not looking good for the next 7-10 days and another storm is just off shore. More rain will just compound the current problems. Madden Dam exceeded it's maximum level yesterday and the dam was opened to allow a run off from the lake this in turn caused strong currents at Gamboa and floating islands of debris. This caused a problem for navigation on the lake and thus the canal was closed. The debris was evident this morning as Norwegian Star approached Gamboa. While the Norwegian Star was late arriving at Gatun Locks this morning it has made up some time so far. I also noticed more debris near Pedro Miguel locks as Norwegian Star approached. Phil Phil, what webcams are you looking at? Thanks:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planer's Edge Posted December 9, 2010 #17 Share Posted December 9, 2010 She is entering the Miraflores now. http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html PE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planer's Edge Posted December 9, 2010 #18 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Here is a better camera. http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html PE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planer's Edge Posted December 9, 2010 #19 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Looks like the weather is pretty crappy. PE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanDreaming2 Posted December 9, 2010 #20 Share Posted December 9, 2010 I'm glad we did this itinerary last year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garycarla Posted December 9, 2010 #21 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Many people will take the words "closed until further notice" to mean a long, long time and that their cruise is ruined. But, as the OP said, he did not intend that to cause any alarm, and was just posting what he knew at the time. Glad to hear that they are getting some ships through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globaliser Posted December 10, 2010 #22 Share Posted December 10, 2010 No where did I say it was a few days or a few weeks, those are your words. I posted "closed till further notice", which is exactly what it was.It wasn't the words you used, it was the impression that your words gave. Here is an example of someone (on another thread) who mistakenly thought that this might be substantially more dramatic than it was:- OH no! I hope it is reopened later this month since we will be on the 12/23 sailing. ... This is a trip that is on my DH bucket list so I hope by then we can get through. We only booked this for the canal.But in the end, this closure was only 17 hours, not 17 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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