The Associated Press travelled on a recent voyage by a tugboat guiding the Ever Living through the canal’s Cocoli locks toward the Pacific Ocean. In one spot a pile of dislodged bumpers sat on the side of the locks, apparently waiting to be hauled away. In the old locks, which are still in use, ships get tethered to powerful locomotives on both sides that keep them centred in the canal. Average transit times have dropped to 2 1/2 to 3 hours, according to the tugboat pilots, compared with 4 hours when the locks first opened. With experience, captains have become more comfortable taking ships straight down the centre of the locks, especially when weather conditions are favourable.

Source: National Post February 09, 2017 17:14 UTC