Panama Canal Transit info

For those planning to go through the canal.

You CAN do everything yourself, I did.

You do NOT need a cruising permit nor visas (at least as Australians and French) if you are just transiting. The port captain said I needed one and that an agent would get it for me. I sat quietly looking friendly but worried, he went for a walk, then issued my Zarpe. It was $24, the office lady was angry as it should be $13, but a cruising permit plus agent would be over $200, so I'm ahead at the moment!

We actually stopped in the middle of San Blas risking a fine, but cleared in at Shelter Bay and cleared out to Galapagos. We will stop a night or two in Balboa, so there is some risk of trouble for not having a zarpe to Balboa, but it saves a lot of time and a few hundred dollars.

If you do it yourself;

ring admeasurers office 4432293 and ask nicely if you can fax through your documents for a transit. Then fax them (free from Shelter Bay marina office, but the marina is NOT free) on 4432313 a cover letter with boat name, colour, email, phone number, position (ie, your dock number, shelter bay or anchorage if you try to do it that way). A copy of your registration, crew list and all passports. (Photocopier is next to fax in marina office, also free)

Ring them back straight away to confirm and they tell you when the admeasurer comes. (You should start this process ASAP, after measuring you can wait for some time before booking transit if you want)

He will come and pretend to measure your boat, ask a lot of questions about how comfortable the toilet seat is and give you a lot of papers.

Take one of them to Citibank (free marina bus in the morning then $2 taxi to Citibank) and hand over $1500 in cash (for our boat).

Ring the same day after 1800 to schedule a date on 2724202. They asked which day I wanted and gave me a slot that day.

Now, you need some tires, 4 lines and 4 line-handlers.

We got tires from another boat coming the other way.

We hired lines from Tito, 64635009 ($60 + 15 delivery and pickup).

We helped another boat through, they will help us.

Marina office can get tires and lines, a little more expensive though.

The boat we helped used an agent, $300 covers tires, lines and all paperwork, plus the agent pays the deposit of about $900. I will get mine back if we cause no trouble, but… after all the bank fees I think I have saved only $100. Still I enjoyed the process, people are always helpful. (always agree on taxi fare before you get in, we only had one honest one)

Now the canal…

easy and fun. There are just a few moments when things could go wrong.

Make sure your best line handler is on the bow rope, you don't want the bow getting away. Simply keep the line under control as you go up. There will be quite some turbulence, but it's fun!! Watch out for the prop wash from the ship in front.

Going down, make sure you don't lock the line to the cleat, you need to be able to feed it out! There is no strength needed, just common sense.

Ask to go through the banana cut if your advisor doesn't already plan to go that way.

Hope this helps.

OH, and to get back from Panama City, I got a taxi from Balboa Yacht club, you can get dropped off at the jetty, to Allbrook Mall Bus station. Find the bus to Colon, it goes often. $2.50, 1 1/2 hours. If you return the same day you'll need to get a taxi to marina, I paid 15, or bus to the canal entrance, $1 and walk 10k. Return the following morning and you can get the free marina bus from the shopping centre.

More Info for Cruisers… for all engine filters in Panama City;

Dilupa, Vía Fernandez de Cordoba, 2298766 email info@dilupa.com

They had all my filters and, for example, the primary fuel, $25 in Italy, was $4.70 (I got 10, should have got more!). They supply oil, and told me they can supply diesel as well, and next time to just call them, they will deliver saving the taxi fare. Not sure how diesel delivery would work, but that's what they said.