Preparing for the Panama Canal

The rainy season continues with huge amounts of rain (someone said, a foot of rain yesterday alone!) and the power was out almost all day yesterday and for many hours from time to time.  There is extensive flooding in the city of Colon so getting things (laundry, Internet) done is a challenge.

A Webcam of the canal's locks is at:



http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html?cam=Miraflores

This gives you locks at both ends of the canal, not just Miraflores.  We will be at the Gatun Locks first.  Play with it.  Canal fees (and procedures???) changed on October 1, 2012.   I will just post the e-mails to/from the agent we are hiring so you will know what we know directly.

Dear Capt John ,

First of all thanks for contacting us.

I here to anticipate proforma and scenario for your sailing boat.

Transit tolls                 $800.00  ( 50 ft and under)  or $1,300.00 ( 50
ft and under 80 ft)
Transit inspection              54.00
Transit Security fee            130.00

Agent service Fee             $350.00

Procedure:

Advance information will be required to register your boat with the Canal
Authorities. (email back to me)

Have you transit before and Sin number?:
Name of Yacht:
Length:
Beam:
Draft:
Gross Tonnage:
Nett Tonnage:
Call sign:
Registration number and Country:
Speed:
Hull Color:
Email:
Last port and next port
Boat builder name & country & year:
How many engines & brand & HP:

Captain:  name:    date of birth:    nationality:    passport no.:
Crew on board:

Scenario:
Once the above information is submitted to the canal authorities a Ship
Identification Number is assigned, I will provide you the number by email .
and register an arrival time as well.

With an arrival time register I may order the Canal Admeasurement inspector
to measure your boat at Shelter Bay Marina Cristobal, inspection are done
Monday through Friday and they are not done daily due to other commitments
with merchant vessel. However I will be pushing to obtain an inspection as
soon as possible, therefore, could be two to three days for an inspection or
if we are lucky the following day of your arrival if its Monday-Friday and
In some cases on Saturdays as well.

Upon completion of admeasurement inspection a transit can be obtain for
between 2-3 days after if season is low, or a fix date with anticipation and
also due to and subject to transit advisor Disponibility. Once a transit is
line up I will then collect funds, Transit tolls and agent fee in Cash 3 to
4 business days before, in order to Guarantee your transit.  No Buffer
(Deposit) fee is request from my side when transit is Atlantic to Pacific.

Then I will provide Tires Fenders and 4 set of lines 125 ft long 7/8 for
transit and they are included in my service fee.
Transit pilot are assigned from 1:00 to 7:00 pm daily and you will transit
up to Gatun lake and then resume the following day about 0600hrs and be
completing passage about 1400hrs


You will need 4 person as handliners for canal transit + the Captain
steering, recommend to obtain assistant from other yachts who are willing to
help and get Experience before hand.  Or I will provide at a cost of $90.00
each for the two day passage. 
I will only accept other sailors from other yachts or incoming
friends/family of yours to be handliners, no other local who is not
authorize by me.

To checkin and checkout, have 6 copies of passport/crew list/boat
registry/cruising permit, and It will be done at Shelter bay with the
Inspector on site.
Check in - no charge
Cruising permit $193.00 + $10.00 tip to maritime inspector to obtain it down
town. Compulsary when entering marinas or navigating our local islands.
Check out fee $13.70

Immigration entry stamp at Shelter bay with inspector on site. No charge,
After 3 days in the country the law establish that you require a visa.

Immigration $110.00 Visa , will require copies of passport of each one ,
check in form, crew list, boat registry and cruising permit and you will do
it yourself in town as they require everyone for finger prints and passport
photos.
Servicio de Migracion
Calle 11, Avenida Melendez,
Colon

Best regards

Erick Galvez
Centenario & Co.S.A.
Mbl. (507) 6676-1376



-----Mensaje original-----
De: Matheson John [mailto:jupiters_smile@me.com]
Enviado el: Saturday, November 24, 2012 3:39 PM
Para: info@centenarioconsulting.com
Asunto: Jupiter's Smile Canal Transit

Dear Eric,
You come highly recommended.  I am John Andrew Matheson Jr and my wife is
Barbara Helen Matheson.  We are USA citizens and have just arrived back to
the boat one week ago.  Jupiter's Smile is an Island Packet 370 sailing
sloop, USA registry #1163525, commissioned in 2004.  Barbara and I wish to
make our transit as soon as possible since we are now back in the water at
Shelter Bay and it seems that all the boat systems are working.  I
understand that the earliest admeasurement would be Tuesday, 27 November and
that we would have an advisor available soon after that, possibly during the
week, but more certainly on the week end.  We look forward to meeting you
and working with you.
John
6953 3877
e-mail: jupiters.smile@gmail.com