Past Panama and on to Canada!

Hello Everybody!!!

Sorry for the radio silence, we lost our Internet for quite a while there, but we’re back in business for the time being however so I’ll fill you in with the latest.

First our position. Currently we ar at 13˚ 22.9 North, and 79˚ 28.8 West. About 250 Nautical miles off the coast of Nicaragua.

The ships anchored waiting to go through the canal. Panama City skyline in the background.

Yesterday we left the East Coast of Panama and have started our journey up to Canada, or Port Cartier more specifically. Our last week running across the Pacific was more or less uneventful. I spend a few afternoons up on the bow watching the seabirds and flying fish. We even had dolphins visit us, unfortunately it was quite rainy though so not the best for catching photos.

Over the last few days before Panama, we started running low on a few few items. One of the major crises including running out of bacon for our last couple breakfasts. Orange juice was another big ticket item that went quickly. Down below I worked with the Engineers and MA to clean up the engine room for our arrival in Panama. Once the floors were mopped, painted, and mopped again, they looked clean enough to eat off.

Upon dropping the anchor just in view of the picturesque Panama City, the once dormant deck of the ship turned into a hive of activity. Our task was now to prepare the ship for both the rough weather that would greet us on the Atlantic, as well as emptying the cargo holds for our first payload from Port Cartier. One of the biggest jobs myself and the MA took up was cutting up spare steel on deck and transporting it to the engine room for storage. This did however give me a chance to use the cutting torch, the plasma cutter, and the deck crane. All of which I enjoyed the practice and experience on. Once the steel was down below we had to construct a rack for storage as well. It had been a year since my last time on the Arc Welder but I got back in the swing of things pretty quickly.

I ended up working a couple of 12 hour days in a row preparing the steel, starting my morning at 3:30, and finishing up at 17:00 for dinner. It was hard work but it’s a nice feeling knowing everything will be secure and safe from the waves on the Atlantic. A bunkering operation was also carried out from a barge at anchorage. My familiarity with the Fuel transfer system made it much more interesting than the previous operations.

Our actual transit through the Panama Canal took place at night, which I thought would hinder my ability to take any photos, but this was not the case. The Canal was so well lit that capturing the activity around the Equinox was no problem at all. We had about workers from the Canal come on board to run the winches, and we were escorted through the locks by small locomotives on tracks, making for both an efficient and safe transit. We were also greeted with a spectacular lightning storm during our trip between the Continents. Once we arrived on the East Coast, we stayed at anchor for a couple days, both waiting for our groceries and making some last minute preparations for the last leg of our maiden voyage. One of my favorite things about sitting at anchor was relaxing out on the deck during coffee break and watching the coming going of the different types of vessels transiting in and out of the Canal. I witnessed the passing of everything from cruise ships, to cattle carriers.

Now we are coming up to our second night underway, everyone is settling in and again getting used to working and sleeping as the Equinox pitches and rolls her way through the waves. My room is again been storm proofed, all my gear fastened down or placed on the floor.

I’m heading down to go on watch now, but I’ll be back in touch again soon. Don’t forget to post any questions or comments you have!

So long for now!

-Sam