Lenora, Pat and I both enjoyed reading about this. We visited Duluth, MN, several years ago and were able to stand just a few feet away from some huge cargo ships as they exited Lake Superior through the aerial lift bridge to get into the Duluth port. But I don't think that compares to what you experienced going through the Panama Canal!
Thanks Cheryl and Pat! That aerial lift bridge sounds really cool, too. Isn’t it amazing to think about all this stuff going on all day every day while most of us are just doing standard things?
A fascinating account, Lenora. Early on while reading your essay I began humming “Planes and Boats and Trains,” Dionne Warwicks lovely recording. You filled in quite a few gaps of my memory on the building of the canal. Many thanks.
As old as the Panama Canal is, my gut sense is that the majority of ocean liners and cargo vessels were designed to fit the width of the canal?! While I’d wager you enjoyed some excellent performers during the cruise, your emphasis today on the canal tells the reader about the greatest one of the cruise. Many thanks, Lenora.
Oops, I posted this reply earlier but must have done something wrong so it didn’t appear as a reply, so I’m reposting…
You’re exactly right, Gary! To this day, all kinds of ships are built to those specifics. The word “Panamax” was coined to refer to the maximum size vessel that will still go through the canal. Since the expansion, the revised maximum specs for the new part of the canal are referred to as Neopanamax.
The tolls for traversing the new part are more expensive than going through the old part, so those building new vessels have a decision to make.
Lenora, Pat and I both enjoyed reading about this. We visited Duluth, MN, several years ago and were able to stand just a few feet away from some huge cargo ships as they exited Lake Superior through the aerial lift bridge to get into the Duluth port. But I don't think that compares to what you experienced going through the Panama Canal!
Thanks Cheryl and Pat! That aerial lift bridge sounds really cool, too. Isn’t it amazing to think about all this stuff going on all day every day while most of us are just doing standard things?
A fascinating account, Lenora. Early on while reading your essay I began humming “Planes and Boats and Trains,” Dionne Warwicks lovely recording. You filled in quite a few gaps of my memory on the building of the canal. Many thanks.
As old as the Panama Canal is, my gut sense is that the majority of ocean liners and cargo vessels were designed to fit the width of the canal?! While I’d wager you enjoyed some excellent performers during the cruise, your emphasis today on the canal tells the reader about the greatest one of the cruise. Many thanks, Lenora.
Oops, I posted this reply earlier but must have done something wrong so it didn’t appear as a reply, so I’m reposting…
You’re exactly right, Gary! To this day, all kinds of ships are built to those specifics. The word “Panamax” was coined to refer to the maximum size vessel that will still go through the canal. Since the expansion, the revised maximum specs for the new part of the canal are referred to as Neopanamax.
The tolls for traversing the new part are more expensive than going through the old part, so those building new vessels have a decision to make.
Thank you, Lenora, for your dedication to accurate information and your readership.