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Taking a yacht through the Panama Canal: admeasurement, line handlers and the locks
Short answer
For most bluewater sailors the way into the Pacific runs through the Panama Canal.
The canal authority measures the yacht, takes a deposit,
puts an adviser aboard and expects four line handlers.
The locks create strong turbulence, and that is where most damage happens.
For bluewater sailors heading west, the Panama Canal is the gateway to the Pacific. The Panama Canal Authority, the ACP, is in charge. Before the transit the yacht is measured, the fee and a deposit against possible delays are paid, and the authority then gives you a date. Many crews use a local agent, though it is not required. Waiting times depend on the season, and anyone joining the spring rush towards the South Pacific should allow time to spare.
Besides the skipper, the authority requires four line handlers, four long, strong lines and plenty of fenders, and an adviser from the canal authority comes aboard as well. Slower yachts take two days and spend the night on Gatún Lake. In the locks yachts are often rafted together, tied to the chamber wall or placed behind a tug. As the chambers fill, the water swirls hard, and if a line is not taken in quickly enough the yacht is pushed against the wall or the boat alongside.
Before the transit, check with your insurer that Panama and the Pacific are inside the agreed cruising area, and tell them about the passage if the policy asks for it. Who pays for damage in a lock depends on the cause and is often hard to settle, so dated photos of the boat before the transit help. If line handlers come from other crews or are paid, agree beforehand how they are covered if someone gets hurt. Lines and fenders can be hired locally.
Worth remembering
Before the transit
admeasurement, deposit, date, crew and lines
In the lock
turbulence, rafting, every line counts
In the Panama Canal the crew on the lines decides whether the yacht comes through unscathed.
Questions
What owners ask us about this
How many line handlers does the Panama Canal require?
Four, plus the skipper. The canal authority's adviser comes aboard as well and does not count as a line handler.
Do I need an agent?
No. Admeasurement, payment and booking can be done yourself, though an agent often saves time and legwork.
How do I know my insurance covers the transit?
Check the agreed cruising area with your insurer before you go and get the answer in writing.
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