Panama Canal cruise

[WA4ILH]

Yet another question about my Panama Canal cruise. Does anyone know what language is spoken by the Pilots and the lock tenders in the canal? As I don't know any Spanish, would there be any point in me bringing a scanner to monitor VHF Marine?
Tom WA4ILH

[WA6MHZ]

Panamanese??????? It's very similar to Mexicanese

[XU7ADQ]

If it's anything like my job, where you're dealing with pilots from every corner of the globe on a daily basis, there will no doubt be a common language spoken by the lock-keepers/pilots, which tends to be English.

Could be wrong - Google is your friend

[AF6LJ]

There is no telling what language is spoken now that the Chinese have control of it.

[KI4NGN]

There is no telling what language is spoken now that the Chinese have control of it.

OK, I'll bite: Huh?

I think you may be reading too much opinion. There was a Costa Rican newpaper article in June that said it's controlled by Israel.

[AF6LJ]

OK, I'll bite: Huh?

I think you may be reading too much opinion. There was a Costa Rican newpaper article in June that said it's controlled by Israel.

We should have never given it away in the first place.

[KB9BVN]

I'm guessing Chinese, and Panamanian, with some Spanish and English in there for good measure.

Jimmy Carter...gave it away.

[XU7ADQ]

Jimmy Carter...gave it away.

For peanuts?

[WB8MKV]

We should have never given it away in the first place.

..It was too expensive to maintain and the local governmenbt was ripping the hell out of us....

[N8CPA]

I was there in Feb '09. Marine channels VHF 12 & 13 (156.00 & 156.65 MHz), depending if Atlantic or Pacific bound. I can't remember whcih channel is which direction. Admin commos are English, but you might also hear Spanish. Expect to also hear some local boats use a Spanglish word "copiado" at the end of transmissions--its meaning is intuitive.

Be out on the fantail of your ship on the day of crossing early in the morning--before sunrise. And be listening to both channels to know which one is being used. If operatiions are the same as '09, all ships will be inbound from both directions in the AM, outbound in the afternoon. In the morning you will hear each ship get told at which time they should enter the canal, and they will sit in the anchorage until the pilot comes aboard. During that time you will be one of many 10's of ships. Take a look on GoogleEarth. You'll see what I'm talking about.

Also, the passage toll must be paid by a ship's owners before the ship is allowed to cross. Sometimes, you will hear VTS call a ship and tell it, "Call your agent." That translates as "You will not cross today because the check bounced." Of course, it's actually a fund transfer that has failed. But the ships don't move until the money is in the Canal Company's coffers.

During lockage, the pilot will communicate with donkey locomotive engineers via UHF, but they will respond with confirmation bells. Very interesting to watch how they affix and release the cables from the ship.

And at some point, you will anchor in one of the canal's lakes to wait for your turn to go through the exit locks. Have your sunblock and bug repellant ready. Mosquito bites may or may not carry a danger of botflies.

Bon Voyage.