Panama Canal Transit Part 4

The Panama Canal Authority began work in 2007 on the Panama Canal expansion program. The program consists of the construction of two new sets of locks - one on the Pacific and one on the Atlantic side of the canal. Each lock will have three chambers and each chamber will have three water reutilization basins. The program also involves the widening and deepening of existing navigational channels in Gatun Lake and the deepening of Culebra Cut. The construction of the third set of locks project will take between seven to eight years. The new locks could begin operations in 2014. The Panama Canal expansion project will allow ships double the size of the current Panamax to pass through the canal, dramatically increasing the amount of goods that can pass through the canal. The new chambers will be 180 feet wide to accommodate the huge Chinese ships which cannot fit through the current locks.
I liked the name of this ship...It was going in the same direction as we were in a parallel lock chamber.
Our ship has been lowered down to the level of the next lake, so the gates are opening...
...and opening...
A close-up of a "mule" keeping us from bumping against the sides of the chamber
...and here we go through the gates to the next little part of the canal.
I think the Panama Canal Authority is the largest employer in Panama. Here you see some more PCA buildings, and even on a Sunday they are busy.

The Visitors Center is full of people today. Panamanians enjoy coming to the center on Sunday afternoons and waving at the people on the cruise ships. We waved back. I'm sure the Panamanian tourists were allowed to see all kinds of interesting displays about the canal. But we weren't allowed. I'm not bitter.
Crowds of people waving at the ships passing by
More official PCA buildings nestled along the shore by the green, green hills.

Be sure to visit again tomorrow for Part 5, my last post about our Panama Canal partial transit!