Cristobal to the Gatun Locks, left to right: -

Familiar to Halifax shipping enthusiasts, the PACIFICO TRADER ex ALGONOVA-07, ex A. G. FARQUHARSON-98, ex TEXACO CHIEF-86. IMO number: 6903981. 4,605 gt (6,539 dwt ). Built 1969 by Canadian Shipbuilding & Engineering Ltd., Collingwood ON. Dimensions: loa: 115.39 m b: 16.51 m draft: 6.69 m. Main engines: 2, Fairbanks Morse 12 cyl diesels Power: 2,942 kW Speed: 13.0 kn Flag: Panama. Photographed just before dawn while at anchor off the port of Cristobal at the Caribbean Sea entrance to the Panama Canal.

Bunkering tanker, RICHIE'S TRADER  ex TABOGA-01. IMO number: 7038563. 2,850 gt. Built 1971-12, K.K. Usuki Tekkosho, Saiki, Japan. Dimensions: loa: 95.10 m b: 15.91 m draft: 5.97 m. Main engine: 2D: 4-stroke 12 cyl Caterpillar Power: 1,500 kW Speed: 11.0 kn. Flag: Panama

Seatrade's reefer, DISCOVERY BAY  IMO number: 9143740. 8,924 gt (10,100 dwt). Built 1997-02 by Kitanihon Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Hichinohe, Japan. Dimensions: loa: 142.15 m b: 22.00 m draft: 8.61 m. Main engine: Mitsubishi H.I. 8 cyl diesel. Power: 11,003 kW Speed: 22.0 kn. Flag: Bahamas.

Danish chemical / products tanker TORM FREYA manouevring into Gatun Locks behind the VOLENDAM.   IMO number: 9250490. 30,058 gt (46,342 dwt). Built 2003 by STX Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., S. Korea. Dimensions: loa: 183.0 m b: 32.20 m draft: 11.00 m. Main engine: B&W-Hyundai 6S50MC-C 6-cyl diesel. Power: 8,562 kW Speed: 14.0 kn. Flag: Denmark (Kobenhavn). The container ship HANJIN PHILADELPHIA (50,242 gt / 2002) is heading towards the adjacent lock.

Vroon's chemical / products tanker IVER EXPERT occupies the lock adjacent to us. IMO number: 9126015. 29,289 gt (45,750 dwt). Built 1997 by Halla Engineering, S. Korea. Dimensions: loa: 183.20 m b: 32.20 m draft: 12.19 m. Main engine: MAN-B&W 6S50MC diesel. Power: 7,470 kW Speed: 13.8 kn. Flag: Netherlands.

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At anchor in Gatun Lake, left to right: -

Formosa Plastic's chemical tanker FORMOSA SEVEN   IMO number: 9110638. 19,095 gt (35,657 dwt ). Built 1996 by Shin Kurushima, Hiroshima, Japan. Dimensions: loa: 167.0 m b: 30.0 m. Main engine: Mitsubishi 6UEC60LA 6-cyl diesel Power: 9,176 kW Speed: 16.8 kn. Flag: Liberia (Monrovia).

Dyviship's car carrier KASSEL.  IMO number: 9186950. 51,204 gt (17,297 dwt) - 5,340 cars. Built 1999-03 by Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co Ltd., Nakamura, Japan. Dimensions: loa: 179.9 m b: 32.2 m draft: 9.62 m. Main engine: Mitsubishi 8UEC60LS 8-cyl diesel Power: 14,123 kW Speed: 19.0 kn. Flag: Panama.

Chartered to Hamburg-Sud, the container ship CAP SARAY  IMO number: 9299032. 25,406 gt (33,784 dwt) - 2,478 teu. Built 2004 by Aker MTW Werft, Wismar, Germany. Dimensions: loa: 207.54 m b: 29.80 m draft: 11.40 m. Main engine: Hitachi Zosen 7L70MC-C diesel. Power: 21,770 kW Speed: 21.9 kn. Flag: Germany (Leer).

Container ship CSAV RIO RAPEL ex ASTURIA-04. IMO number: 9178290. 26,047 gt (30,703 dwt) - 2,100 teu. Built 2000 by China Shipbuilding Corp., Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Dimensions: loa: 195.6 m b: 30.20 m draft: 11.00 m. Main engine: Hyundai 7S70MC diesel. Power: 20,874 kW Speed: 21.0 kn. Flag: Liberia (Monrovia). The Chilean-owned, oil products tanker CABO PILAR (40,027 gt / 2005 by Daewoo) is at anchor in the background.

Shunzan Kaiun's bulk / lumber carrier ATLANTIC FALCON   IMO number: 9296327. 17,660 gt (28,671 dwt). Built 2006 by Shin Kochijyuko Co. Ltd., Japan. Dimensions: loa: 176.63 m b: 26.00 m draft: 9.63 m. Main engine: Kobe 5-cyl diesel. Power: 5,900 kW Speed: 14.1 kn. Flag: Panama.

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Cruising Gatun Lake, left to right: -

V. Ships U.S.A.'s chemical tanker TRADEWIND UNION ex SOUTHERN LION-03. IMO number: 9175729. 5,999 gt (10,600 dwt). Built 1997-09 by Asakawa Shipbuilding, Japan. Dimensions: loa: 118.0 m b: 19.2 m draft: 8.26 m. Main engine: Hitachi Zosen 6-cyl diesel Power: 4,192 kW Speed: 13.8 kn. Flag: Panama.

OSG Ship Management's crude oil tanker OVERSEAS POLYS.  IMO number: 9001605. 38,653 gt (68,623 dwt). Built 1993 by Jiangnan Shipyard, Shanghai, P. R. China. Dimensions: loa: 218.13 m b: 32.20 m draft: 13.8 m. Main engine: Dalian Marine Diesel Factory 6L60MC, 6-cyl diesel Power: 8,996 kW Speed: 14.0 kn. Flag: Marshall Islands (Majuro). Previous names: POLYS-05, DOUBLE GLORY-97.

Novoship's oil products tanker NS STELLA  IMO number: 9309588. 27,357 gt (47,197 dwt). Built 2005 by Brodotrogir d.d., Trogir, Croatia. Dimensions: loa: 182.5 m b: 32.23 m draft: 12.20 m. Main engine: MAN-B&W 6S50MC-C 6-cyl diesel. Power: 7,300 kW Speed: 14.5 kn. Flag: Liberia (Monrovia).

China Navigation's general cargo ship PACIFIC JAVA ex INDOTRANS JAVA-06, ex GITTA OLDENDORFF-04, ex HOEGH DENE-00. IMO number: 8126575. 30,150 gt (41,600 dwt) - 1,656 teu. Built 1984 by Oy Wartsila Ab, Finland. Dimensions: loa: 197.7 m b: 32.20 m. Main engine: 4-cyl diesel. Power: 10,005 kW Speed: 16.5 kn. Flag: P. R. China (Hong Kong). Another ship very familiar to Halifax ship enthusiasts.

China Shipping Container Line's XIN CHONG QING   IMO number: 9262118. 41,482 gt (50,188 dwt) - 4,250 teu. Built 2003 by Hudong Shipyard, Shanghai. Dimensions: loa: 263.23 m b: 32.20 m. Main engine: MAN-B&W 8K90MC-C diesel. Power: 36,560 kW Speed: 24.2 kn. Flag: P. R. China (Shanghai). This ship was on rotation to Halifax when CSCL called at the port.

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The Gaillard Cut and on to Balboa, left to right: -

Hapag-Lloyd's LONDON EXPRESS   IMO number: 9143568. 53,523 gt (66,577 dwt) - 4,612 teu. Built 1998 by Samsung Shipbuilding, Koje, S. Korea. Dimensions: loa: 294.0 m b: 32.3 m. Main engine: MAN-B&W 9K90MC diesel Power: 41,130 kW Speed: 24.0 kn. Flag: Germany (Hamburg). A frequent caller on the Grand Alliance PAX service at Halifax.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen's vehicles carrier TEXAS ex BARBER TEXAS-89. IMO number: 8204963. 66,635 gt (44,081 dwt) - 4,474 cars. Built 1984 by Hyundai Heavy Industries, Co, Ltd, Ulsan, S. Korea. Dimensions: loa: 262.08 m b: 32.31 m draft: 11.73 m. Main engine: B&W-Hyundai 8L90Gb diesel. Power: 26,938 kW Speed: 21.0 kn. Flag: Norwegian International Ship Register (Tonsberg). Converted from a Ro-Ro general cargo / container ship to a car carrier in 2002. Was a Halifax regular in the 1990s.

Hermann Buss's container ship EMS TRADER ex ALEMANIA EXPRESS-05, ex SEA CHEETAH-02.   IMO number: 9213105. 25,535 gt (33,917 dwt) - 2,452 teu. Built 2000-09 by Thyssen Nordseewerke, Emden, Germany. Dimensions: loa: 199.91 m b: 29.80 m draft: 11.55 m. Main engine: Hyundai 7L70MC diesel. Power: 19,810 kW Speed: 22.0 kn. Flag: Antigua & Barbuda (St. JohnÕs).

Another small tanker with Canadian origins, the CANAL TRADER, which, in the latter part of her long career, is a bunkering tanker based at Balboa. ex ENERCHEM REFINER-99, ex INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORT-86. IMO number: 6920288. 4,502 gt (8,290 dwt). Built 1969-08 by Davie Shipbuilding Ltd., Levis QC, Canada. Dimensions: loa: 119.18 m b: 16.84 m draft: 6.65 m. Main engines: 2, Fairbanks Morse 10-cyl diesels. Power: 2,450 kW Speed: 12.5 kn. Flag: Panama. This ship, like PACIFICO TRADER and RICHIE'S TRADER above, is managed by Bunker Vessel Management of Panama. The funnel, right background, belongs to the Ecuadorian tanker, ZAMORA (27,607 gt / 1999).

COSCO's bulker COS ORCHID   IMO number: 9308704. 30,953 gt (55,539 dwt). Built 2006 by Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering, Nantong, P. R. China.. Dimensions: loa: 189.9 m b: 32.26 m draft: 12.52 m. Main engine: Hudong Heavy Machinery 6-cyl diesel. Power: 8,200 kW Speed: 14.6 kn. Flag: Singapore.

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The Port of Balboa, left to right: -

Alpha Shipmanagement's MAERSK VALPARAISO, ex VEGA-01.  IMO number: 9225433. 23,744 gt (29,098 dwt) - 1,804 teu. Built 2001-02 by Stocznia Gdynia SA, Gdynia, Poland. Dimensions: loa: 194.06 m b: 28.20 m draft: 11.50 m. Main engine: H. Cegielski-Poznan S.A. 6 cyl (6L70MC). Power: 17,200 kW Speed: 21.0 kn. Flag: Marshall Islands (Majuro).

STX Pan Ocean's bulker NEW CONCORD.  IMO number: 9117856. 16,498 gt (27,258 dwt). Built 1996 by Hanjin H.I. & Construction, Ulsan, S. Korea. Dimensions: loa: 167.0 m b: 26.2 m draft: 9.91 m. Main engine: Doosan 5-cyl. Power: 5,479 kW. Speed: 14.0 kn. Flag: S. Korea (Jeju). Photographed moored beneath the "Bridge of the Americas".

To the right of the Panamanian tuna fishing vessel, the ANDREA F (IMO number: 8003254 / built 1981), is an interesting small refrigerated cargo ship with 3 cranes, the SANTA INES F, ex YAIZA-07 for Tredegar Co. S.A., Panama, ex SIERRA GUADARRAMA-04 for Maritima del Norte, Spain.  IMO number: 7702384. 2,477 gt (2,480 dwt). Built 1978-01 by Astillero E. Lorenzo, Vigo, Spain. Dimensions: loa: 86.6 m b: 13.6 m. Main engine: Deutz RBV8M358. Power: 2,600 kW. Speed: 13.0 knots. Current owner: Agropecuaria La Maporita, Caracas. Flag: Venezuela. The ship was being repainted and has just appeared in Equasis with the name shown in this photo.

Interorient Navigation's tanker BALTIC ADVANCE. IMO number: 9299862. 23,240 gt (37,330 dwt). Built 2006 by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, S. Korea. Dimensions: loa: 182.55 m b: 27.34 m draft: 10.85 m. Main engine: B&W-Hyundai 6S50MC-C 6-cyl diesel. Power: 9,466 kW Speed: 14.5 kn. Flag: Cyprus (Limassol).

Naftomar Shipping's LPG tanker GAZ BARAKA ex TOYOSU-97, ex TOYOSU MARU-94.   IMO number: 8323173. 24,387 gt (24,947dwt). Built 1984-10 by Ishikawajima-Harima H. I. Co. Ltd., Japan. Dimensions: loa: 176.71 m b: 30.01 m draft: 9.22 m. Main engine: IHI-Sulzer 6-cyl diesel. Power: 6,035 kW Speed: 14.5 kn. Flag: Panama. Assisting tug, SMIT CRISTOBAL (294 gt / 2004).

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Balboa anchorage, left to right: -

A throw-back to the past, Tonghae Sonbak's freighter BI RYU GANG.  IMO number: 8829593. 6,582 gt (9,588 dwt). Built 1984-03 by Chongjin Shipyard, Huichon, North Korea. Dimensions: loa: 131.0 m b: 18.0 m draft: 8.0 m. Flag: North Korea (Chongjin). Evidently built to an East German design.

Transportacion Maritima de California's Ro-Ro ship SANTA RITA ex JUNIPER-03, ex CAP BENAT-86.  IMO number: 7500712. 5,610 gt (2,700 dwt) - 130 teu, 280 cars. Built 1977 by Soc. Nouvelle des Ateliers et Chantieres du Havre, Le Havre, France. Dimensions: loa: 109.71 m b: 17.53 m draft: 5.21 m. Main engines: 2, MaK 9-cyl diesels. Power: 4,854 kW. Speed: 16.0 kn. Flag: Mexico (La Paz).

Bergesen's LPG tanker BW HAVFROST ex HAVFROST-07.  IMO number: 8814768. 34,946 gt (44,995 dwt). Built 1991 by Kvaerner Govan Ltd., Scotland. Dimensions: loa: 204.93 m b: 32.2 m draft: 12.22 m. Main engine: Sulzer-Clark Kincaid 6RTA62 6-cyl diesel. Power: 11,400 kW. Speed: 15.8 kn.Flag: Norway International Ship Register (Oslo). The car carrier in the background is the HOEGH OCEANIA (58,947 gt / built 2003 by Toyohashi, Japan).

Codralux's hopper suction dredger FILIPPO BRUNELLESCHI. IMO number: 9262778. 13,001 gt (18,950 dwt). Built 2003-12 by IZAR Construcciones Navales S.A., Astillero Sestao, Vizcaya, Spain. Dimensions: loa: 142.46 m b: 27.50 m draft: 9.08 m. Main engines: 2, MAN-B&W 12-cyl diesels. Power: 11,520 kW Speed: 15.8 kn. Flag: Spain (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria).

Jutha Maritime's freighter NORDANA SOPHIE ex JUTHA BUDDHACHART-06.   IMO number: 9205562. 7,659 gt (8,976 dwt). Built 1996-06 by Higaki Shipbuilding, Japan. Dimensions: loa: 114.10 m b: 19.60 m draft: 7.43 m. Main engine: Hanshin 6-cyl diesel. Power: 3,883 kW Speed: 13.6 kn. Flag: Thailand (Bangkok). The Cook Islands registered reefer LAPPONIAN REEFER (7,659 gt / built 1992 by Kvaerner Kleven, Ulsteinvik, Norway. Port of Registry: Rarotonga ) is in the background.

Finally, the integrated catamaran tug / oil barge combination JACKSONVILLE, whiich was refitted at the Halifax Shipyard in the late 1990s.   IMO number of tug: 7901916. 1,443 gt. Built 1982-05 by Halter Marine Inc., U.S.A.,. Dimensions: loa: 37.71 m b: 27.53 m. Main engines: Transamerica Delaval Inc. 16-cyl diesels. Power: 13,578 kW Speed: 10.0 kn. Flag: U.S.A. (Wilmington DE). The 22,470 gt barge, which has a different IMO number, was built in 1982-01 by Bethlehem Steel Corp., U.S.A.

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