Posted on 03/29/2020 1:27:15 PM PDT by Capt. Tom
Edited on 03/29/2020 2:01:54 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Later that night, Holland America released a statement that it was working to facilitate the transit for the Zaandam and Rotterdam.
(Excerpt) Read more at miami.cbslocal.com ...
The Zaandam that was doing South American cruises had covid19 tourists aboard and had to cancel its Holland American trip as no ports would let the infected ship enter.
It was denied permission to transit the Panama Canal and off loaded its healthy passengers to its Sister ship HAL Rotterdam which came down from Puerta Vayarta Mexico with supplies, and virus test kits, with no tourists aboard. the Rotterdam. Both ships rendezvoud and wanted to transit the Canal to get to Florida, but problems continue to ensue.-Tom
This is the latest part of the saga. -Tom
Annnnnd, who controls the Panama Canal now?
We need to take OUR Canal back!
As Reagan said, “We built it, We paid for it, It’s Ours!”
I said at the time that I expected I would see in my lifetime American blood shed to maintain/re-gain control of the canal.
CHINA.
I expected they would let the two ships the Zaandam and the Rotterdam go through the Canal because it will cause problems for Florida Ports and hospitals, and the fee for transiting the Canal would be about $250,000 per ship based on the number of beds onboard.
Think of it as a double win for China.
It is our USA Ports in Florida that are getting balky about this. -tom
Zaandamit!
The Voyage of the Zaandamned!
I thought it was the Panamanians. The Chinese control a port at one or both ends of the canal, but I admit, I could be wrong.
Was reading yesterday that the problem the Panamanians had was exposing the required pilot for the transit.
The Chinese wouldn't OWN the canal, but certainly can exercise some control over it, as they have control of the ports on each end of the canal. - Tom
Fort Lauderdale mayor not ready to accept the coronavirus-hit Zaandam at Port Everglades :
https://amp.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article241605286.html
https://amp.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article241605286.html
That would be expected because of the illness and possible illness in the passengers who are not all Americans.
More foreigners to deal with that are not tourists, but people wanting to go home to foreign countries-now.
The Zaandam has British passengers on board. Other guests include Americans, Canadians and Australians as well as Germans, Italians, French, Spanish and New Zealanders. And those are the passengers. The crew is more diverse.
Just hope they don't end up in local hospitals. -Tom
Looks like a night time transit of the Panama Canal for the Zaandam and Rotterdam.
The Canal is roughly 55 miles long with 3 sets of locks.
They have you keep your speed down, because they don't want your wake washing the banks into the Canal.
Probably 10 hours to get through. -Tom
Those ships still fit in the old locks. But they are so tight you can almost touch the lock walls from a balcony cabin.
If they want to spread less COVID to the shores or land, put the ships through the new wider locks. Gotta be a good 20 feet on either side of the ship that way.
Oops. We may have spoken too soon. The ships are stopping again, off shore.
— not Tom
Most of the cruise ships were made to fit in those original locks. Those ships Were called PANAMAX.
They were designed to be less than 1,000 feet long and less than 110 feet wide. They just fit in the old locks.-Tom
The Zaandam is in the canal , the Rotterdam is still outside as of 10:20 PM ESDT. Wil check it in the morning. - Tom
As you cited, entry now into first lock at sea level.
Hmm, as I predicted two days ago here on FR, THEY ARE IN THE NEW LOCKS, the wider ones. 20 feet from balconies to land. The old locks would have been barely 3 feet clearance.
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