continued… We were now 54 feet higher above sea level than we had been before entering the first of the two Mira Flores locks. Here are our advisors strategizing about the next lock, while Eric waited for directions.

While we were waiting for the container ship in front of us to be disconnected from the trains (called mules) that held it in place while the waters were turbulent, a giant container ship pulled into the new, larger lock next to us. 

The construction on a third, larger set of locks to accommodate bigger ships began in 2007. We’d seen the construction when we went through the canal in 2009.  The new set of locks was completed in 2016. 

Once the container ship in front of us was released, the trains chugged past us, getting into position for the next ship.

Untying was the same as in the first lock: the container ship went first, creating a lot of turbulence for a few minutes. When the container ship was far enough away that the water had calmed down, the sailboat untied. We untied when the sailboat was in an area where we could safely pass it.

After leaving the second Mira Flores lock, we drove 1.5 km through Lake Mira Flores to the Pedro Miguel lock. We passed the sailboat along the way. The bridge near the locks is the Centennial Bridge.

We’re getting closer to the lock… and the container ship is being positioned.

Here is Thaddeus, the advisor trainee, guiding Eric into the lock behind the container ship.

As we pulled in, it felt like a tight squeeze behind the huge ship! Note the proximity of the canal doors on either side — once in proper position, there really wasn’t a lot of space in front of or behind us.

We repeated the whole drill exactly the same as before: Kosmos tied to the wall. The sailboat tied up to us. The gates closed and the water filled. This video gives a good sense of how turbulent the water became in the locks.

Mike, Brianna and Kim did an excellent job of keeping us close to the wall. The fenders did their jobs and only needed minor adjustments. Keith helped Jan and Christi with the fenders.

We were now 29 feet higher above sea level than when we’d gone in. 

The reason they didn’t build the third lock adjacent to the other two is because there is an active tectonic fault line beneath Lake Mira Flores. Interestingly enough, the new, bigger locks were constructed as a three-step system, which some experts consider a risky decision. While we were waiting to untie, the container ship we’d seen earlier approached (and eventually passed) us. Note that in the photo, it was already at the same altitude as Kosmos, even though it hadn’t quite reached the Pedro Miguel lock yet.

Untying went the same as the other two times; a little turbulent when the ship left, but otherwise uneventful. In this photo, the container ship had already untied and we were waiting for the all-clear for the sailboat to untie.

Once we exited the lock, we were officially in Lake Gatun. We needed to cross the 33 km lake to reach the set of locks that would take us back down to sea level.

To be continued….