STEPS

1) CONTACT AGENT TO GET ADDED TO THE SYSTEM AND SUBMIT VIRTUAL MEASUREMENTS  ( or do it your self with cash with the Panama Canal Authority )
2) PAY THE FEES TO AGENT
3) SUBMIT MEASUREMENT ( submit virtually  )
4) GET YOUR DATE
5) VOLUNTEER AS A LINE HANDLER ON ANOTHER YACHT
6) PLAN OUT YOUR TRANSIT NEEDS  4 LINE HANDLERS  / FENDERS AND LINES / FOOD / WATER ETC ( watch video )
7) ON THE DAY OF TRANSIT BE READY AND TAKE ON THE ADVISOR AT THE DESIGNATED LOCATION ( usually near a buoy )
8) TRANSIT
9) DROP OFF ADVISOR
10) DROP OF LINE HANDLERS
11) RETURN LINES AND FENDERS

PANAMA POSSE CANAL AGENTS

To arrange for transit with the Panama Canal Authority please contact our dedicated Panama Canal agents and sponsors of the Panama Posse and the Pacific Posse

CENTENARIO CONSULTING

Erick Gálvez
info@centenarioconsulting.com
www.centenarioconsulting.com
Cellphone +507 6676-1376
WhatsApp +507 6676-1376

WAYPOINT YACHT SERVICES

www.waypointyacht.com

The Panama Canal—Atlantic Approach
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The Atlantic Entrance to the Panama Canal leads from the Caribbean Sea, close N of the Cristobal breakwater entrance, passing through the length of Bahia Limon, which is protected by two breakwaters known as East Breakwater and West Breakwater, extending across its N end. This entrance has been recently (2016) widened to 520m and lies in the middle of the bay between the seaward ends of the breakwaters, marked by 6 buoys. Winds—Weather.—The climatological year in the canal area is customarily divided into a wet season (April through December) and a dry season (December through April). Average rainfall during the dry season is about 110mm, whereas that of the wet season is about 1,690mm, with the maximum precipitation occurring during daylight hours in both seasons. Uniformly high temperature and humidity make the climate oppressive. Regulations.—An IMO-approved TSS has been established in the approaches to Puerto Cristobal. The TSS, best seen on the chart in the outer approaches to Puerto Cristobal, is composed of the traffic separation scheme, several inshore traffic zones, and a precautionary area.

Puerto Cristobal 09° 21’N 079° 55’W Tides—Currents.—The greatest variation in range is 0.6m. The range is frequently more affected by the direction of the wind than by any other factor. Fresh NW winds may cause some current setting SE in Bahia Limon. An E set across the channel outside the entrance is normally encountered. Shallow water effect frequently causes vessels to respond adversely

Depths—Limitations

From the 20m curve N of the breakwater entrance, the depths gradually decrease to about 16m between the breakwaters, 16.5m in the charted channel, and 16.2m between a 40m standoff from the W breakwater coastline and a standoff distance from the E breakwater coastline, and to a least depth in the dredged entrance channel of 13m. The S part of Bahia Limon is shallow; this area is also used as a spoil area. A shoal area here uncovers. Several wrecks lie in this part of the bay. The harbor has depths of 7.9 to 11.3m.

Pilotage

Pilotage is compulsory for the Panama Canal, including Puerto Cristobal. Pilots board either on arriving inside the breakwaters or at the anchorage. Pilots leave outbound vessels after passing the lighted beacon W of Muelle Cristobal and when the vessel is steadied on its course; however, pilots will accompany vessels to a position just inside the breakwater entrance if desired. An ETA is required to be sent at least 96 hours in advance. Vessels approaching the canal from the Atlantic must report 12 hours before arrival at Puerto Cristobal any change of 1 hour or more in their ETA on VHF channel 12. Pilots do not operate outside the breakwater. For Panama Canal Pilot Contact Information, see table titled Panama Canal Pilots—Contact Information, in paragraph Regulations.—All vessels must hoist their designator signals during daylight when approaching and entering Bahia Limon. Vessels must call the signal station on VHF channel 12. Vessels shall, until a pilot boards, maintain a continuous watch on VHF channels 12 and 16. Vessels approaching the Panama Canal shall communicate by radio with the Navigation Division not less than 48 hours in advance of arrival. No vessel may approach within 1 mile of the breakwater entrance until it has identified itself. Anchorage.— At all times large deep-draft vessels and/or any vessel so directed may anchor outside the breakwater in the approved area. Vessels will be given a definite time to enter the breakwater, where the vessel will be met by transit pilots and boarding officials. Anchorage Area F at Puerto Cristobal has been resurveyed. Depths are approximately 1.3m less than charted. Anchorage is prohibited in or near the axis of the dredged channel.

Caution.—A submarine telephone cable, which may best be seen on the chart, lies W of the approved anchorage areas. Mariners anchoring W of the approved anchorages should keep clear of this cable. Battery Pratt is no longer available and Cristobal Signal Station VHF channel 12 provides no additional information. Vessels required to remain underway outside Bahia Limon are cautioned to keep N of the breakwaters until it is clear to enter before departing the lower chamber. Pilots board in position 9°24.5’N, 79°53.8’W. Regulations.—The Panama Canal Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) covers the approaches to Colon and its terminals.

Contact Information
National Port Authority
Telephone +507-510-5106 +507-510-5227
E-mail dpuertos@amp.gob.pa
Web site http://www.amp.gob.pa
Port Authority Telephone +507-430-9500

The Panama Canal

The Panama Canal, a lock-type canal traversing the Isthmus of Panama in a SSE direction for approximately 43 miles, connects Bahia Limon on the Atlantic side with Panama Bay on the Pacific side. The ports of entry for the canal are Cristobal, on the Atlantic side, and Balboa, on the Pacific side. All ships should be familiar with the Panama Canal Authority home page, especially the Maritime Services tab where there are Maritime Regulations. These regulations can be accessed from the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) home page provided below. Vessels should also be familiar with the Notices to Shipping section from the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) home page, most notably the Panama Canal Harbor Operations Requirements and the Panama Canal Vessel Requirements. Vessels should consult these regulations prior to transiting. A brief discussion of some of these regulations and requirements are provided for reference in this paragraph. These regulations apply to all navigable waters in the Atlantic entrance and the Atlantic anchorage areas, the port of Cristobal, and through the canal itself. The Panama Canal is largely made possible by the Gatun Lake watershed, which has a maximum operating level of 27.1m above sea level, and can vary according to the season of the year, or due to prolonged periods of no rainfall, and the Rio Chagres, which lies about in the middle of the Isthmus of Panama. Gatun Lake is reached through three sets of locks, which are arranged in duplicate on either side of the most elevated part of the canal, or through the new Atlantic and Pacific side expansion locks. The canal has recently completed (2016) a multi-year extensive expansion project to accommodate vessels that exceed the old Panamax dimensions. The expansion project has included the following improvements: 1. Widening and deepening of the Gatun Lake navigational channel, 2. Construction of a third set of locks on the Pacific (Cocoli Locks) and Atlantic (Agua Clara Locks) sides. 3. Raising the maximum operational level of Gatun Lake. 4. Widening of channel reaches and the turns in Gatun Lake. 5. Construction of a new Pacific Access channel that will bypass Miraflores Lake and the Miraflores Locks, connecting the new Pacific locks with the Culebra Cut. 6. Deepening of the Culebra Cut. The original Canal lock gates and valves are electrically operated from a central control station. The entire operation is directed by a lock master on the center wall. All of the canal lock chambers are similar in dimensions and method of operation. In transiting the canal, a vessel is raised in three steps, or lockages; first to the level of Gatun Lake through the Gatun Locks, then is subsequently lowered in three steps to sea level on the other side of the isthmus. The flights of locks are in duplicate, enabling vessels to pass in opposite directions simultaneously. Although two-way transit is possible, traffic typically transits the canal in shifts of northbound traffic or southbound traffic, running both channels in the same direction simultaneously. The average canal transit time is 12 hours. Fo Small vessel it may take up to 2 days The Panama Canal Expansion project has added two new sets of locks; one on the Atlantic Ocean side (Agua Clara Locks) and one on the Pacific Ocean side (Cocoli Locks). The new Atlantic side lock complex is situated E of the existing Gatun Locks and the new Pacific side lock complex is located SW of the existing Miraflores Locks.

The actual transit time is advised over VHF channel 12.
All vessels underway in the canal will maintain a continuous watch on VHF channel 13.
Bridge to bridge communications between vessels in the canal will be carried out on VHF channel 13 as well.
During the time when the Canal pilot is on board, VHF channel 13 may only be used by the pilot or at his direction, solely for navigational communications.
All communications between the Signal Station and vessels should be in English.
If any of the following events occur during canal transit, a report must be made to the Marine Traffic Control Unit:
1. Any accident or other incident which may cause delay or require assistance.
2. Discovery of any defect that may interfere with safe navigation.
3. Anchoring or mooring when visibility falls below 305m including during heavy squalls

PANAMA CANAL OVERVIEW

DETAILS