[spn]

Originally Posted by abendx

Ok... I thought I read that it would be on the Pacific side on the 23rd. To me meaning, it would start it's trip from the Atlantic side late on the 22nd or sometime on the 23rd. I didn't realize they didn't move boats through at night? It was so long ago... I don't really recall if there were boats moving through at all hours of the day and night or not. I was right on the southern side of the pacific entrance for several months, at Fort Amador. I do remember a very cool Soviet Nuclear sub that passed by us with it's men on full display as it passed by us.

If it does hit the Pacific on the eve of the 21st, we should be seeing it hit Hueneme early. Good news!

I think PanCanal boats move through the locks at night, but not these big super vessels. They like to take them through during the day. There is a pilot up on the bridge and one or two pilots hanging over the edges watching the sides, as they take the ship through the locks. I have seen several shows about the process and it is very interesting. I would love to visit and see it in real life. Actually, I would like to be on a ship going through the lock systems.

She should go through the canal tomorrow, as scheduled. It takes approx 6 days for these ships to sail to SoCal. She's scheduled to arrive at the port of San Diego on 2/27 and port Hueneme on 2/29. She very well could be stopping at the port of Long Beach/LA in between on 2/28. So, that means SD on 27, LA on 28, and PH on 29. You have to pay to see LA's schedule, so we don't know if she really is slated to stop there. That port is a black hole. I would guess that that will be her schedule for those ports, though. I have seen the same ship stop at all three ports. We will have to wait and see.

[sal501]

Originally Posted by spn

I think PanCanal boats move through the locks at night, but not these big super vessels. They like to take them through during the day. There is a pilot up on the bridge and one or two pilots hanging over the edges watching the sides, as they take the ship through the locks. I have seen several shows about the process and it is very interesting. I would love to visit and see it in real life. Actually, I would like to be on a ship going through the lock systems.

She should go through the canal tomorrow, as scheduled. It takes approx 6 days for these ships to sail to SoCal. She's scheduled to arrive at the port of San Diego on 2/27 and port Hueneme on 2/29. She very well could be stopping at the port of Long Beach/LA in between on 2/28. So, that means SD on 27, LA on 28, and PH on 29. You have to pay to see LA's schedule, so we don't know if she really is slated to stop there. That port is a black hole. I would guess that that will be her schedule for those ports, though. I have seen the same ship stop at all three ports. We will have to wait and see.

Does this mean that my car can probably be offloaded at San Diego port on 2/27? spn you rock

[spn]

Originally Posted by sal501

Does this mean that my car can probably be offloaded at San Diego port on 2/27? spn you rock

No, sorry, your car will have to be processed at the BMW Vehicle Prep Center (VPC) in Oxnard. Volkswagons and Porsches are offloaded at San Diego because that is where their VPCs are located. Mercedes are offloaded at Long Beach/LA (they're connected) because that is where their VPC is located. These car-carrying ships carry between 5000-6000 cars, and in the case of Sirius Leader, it is full of German-made cars all going to SoCal ports.

And, I don't know if SL is going to stop in LA. She might.

[spn]

Sirius will probably start her Canal passage early tomorrow morning. I normally get up at 6 a.m. (MST), so I will check on her then. The past two days, the ships I have tracked have started their passages at that time. I don't know if Sirius will start that early, too. If she does, I will post photos for those who will not be able to watch her live.

I just checked on the AIS radar and she's waiting patiently in the outer bay tonight.

Here's the web site for the PanCanal cameras. She will start at the Gatun Locks camera in the morning.
http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html

[SoCali E36]

so she is going to past through the canal on the 21st?

[SoCali E36]

dam im too excited!

[spn]

I think this is her in Gatun Locks. I just missed the front of her in the camera view.

[spn]

Here's the radar view.

[spn]

She is passed the first set of locks and camera view now. If she keeps sailing along without stopping, she will reach the next camera at Centennial Bridge just after lunchtime. So, stay tuned to that camera.

[SoCali E36]

Originally Posted by spn

I think this is her in Gatun Locks. I just missed the front of her in the camera view.

yes that is her!!!! JOY JOY JOY!


lol seriously though thats pretty crazy how those giants pass through.

[spn]

Originally Posted by SoCali E90

yes that is her!!!! JOY JOY JOY!


lol seriously though thats pretty crazy how those giants pass through.

If she keeps on coarse, she should reach the Centennial Bridge camera about 12:30 California time. And, the Mira Flores Locks and camera are right around the corner from the Centennial Bridge, so don't go far. I may or may not be home to catch it. If someone does catch it live, post some pictures.

[abendx]

Thanks SPN.

[spn]

Here's a new AIS radar page. These AIS radar screens can be delayed up to one hour, so she's further along than what this shows. But, she's making progress. I would still guess that she will reach the Centennial Bridge camera about 12:30 pacific time, give or take a half hour.

[spn]

Here she comes under the Centennial Bridge (see web cam).

[spn]

Here's Sirius Leader at the Centennial Bridge. http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html

The Miraflores locks are just around the corner, so once she disappears from this camera, switch to the Miraflores camera.

[spn]

Here are the Centennial Bridge photos.

[spn]

She's approaching the first step down of the Miraflores locks.

[spn]

Is anyone out there watching?? http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html

[Clark Kent]

thanks for all the progress reports, spn. i'm keepin' an eye on it here in LA. pretty interesting to see how it all works.

[spn]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

thanks for all the progress reports, spn. i'm keepin' an eye on it here in LA. pretty interesting to see how it all works.

I emailed them and asked them to pan back when the ship gets into this next lock. They've always done it when I have asked. If they do it, we will get a full view of the ship in the lock and she'll hold that position for quite some time as they lower her down.

If they do pan back for us while she's in the lock, take a look at the Hi-Res camera. You can almost see in the windows of the ship's bridge. It is very cool!

[spn]

This view we are seeing here is actually far away from the camera. The camera is zoomed into this first step down. You will see in a minute when they pan back. Once she hits the lock, I have asked they pan back further to see her full view in the lock.

[spn]

OK. Here's a good view. They panned all the way back for us. You will get a really close up view when she goes into this next step down lock. She will hold that position for a long time. It is also good that they are putting her in the lock closest to the camera.

When she pulls in, switch to the hi-res camera and look in the windows of the bridge.