May 4th Disney Wonder incident

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

....................... Few years ago on a PC transit, we FELT the Wonder hitting the side of the locks - twice Later on at a Q&A someone asked the captain about it - he said that we actually bumped into the wall FOUR Times. They (the Panama Canal Transit Authority) and some of the ships crew did a quick check of the damage - and it was fine and we proceeded to Puerta Vallarta. Our friends had an excursion there where they left by boat and the could see that the side of the ship was really scratched up. When they returned a few hours later - a fresh coat of paint had been applied and it looked brand spanking new.......................

Would that have been the West Bound PC transit on the Wonder in 2011? Wife and I were on that trip and I remember the bumps. DCL had a retired pilot for the Panama Canal giving several Q & A talks leading up to the transit and right after crossing through. I remember the talk after the transit; he was asked about that. Said it happens frequently and it won't be long and they will be out there painting over it.

 

[JW9DVC]

Definitely not a cherry picker. Clearly a forklift.

 

[princessmommyx3]

I was on this sailing. When we were getting back onboard, we noticed Captain Robert walking quickly outside the ship which we though was odd at the time. A little while later we realized why he was out there when he made the announcement. Here are my pictures:

 

[truck1]

crashed into the side of the ship and didn't even leave a scratch.

Well it probably did, but they got it painted back up pretty quick.

Few years ago on a PC transit, we FELT the Wonder hitting the side of the locks - twice Later on at a Q&A someone asked the captain about it - he said that we actually bumped into the wall FOUR Times. They (the Panama Canal Transit Authority) and some of the ships crew did a quick check of the damage - and it was fine and we proceeded to Puerta Vallarta. Our friends had an excursion there where they left by boat and the could see that the side of the ship was really scratched up. When they returned a few hours later - a fresh coat of paint had been applied and it looked brand spanking new.

This little cherry picker couldn't have done a lick of damage to the ship!

That happened to the Magic when I was on the Panama Canal cruise I'm surprised they issued any payment for it as apparently the response Captain Tom got when the dragged the ship on both side through the last lock after we didn't touch any of them ws "all ships touch the walls" The next two ports we were in they were grinding the rubber marks off the ship and repainting it. According to Captain phuket when he did his post crusi talk Captain Tom wanted to throw the Panama, Canal officials off the ship or it they did leave pretty quickly once the pilot boat pulled up though.

Id be surprised if any ship makes it thru un scathed. Looking at the dimensions, the original locks are 110 feet wide and the Magic class are 106 feet wide. That leave 2 feet on each side clearance. In the old lock system, when a ship transits the locks, the electric mules run cables out to the ships, to keep them centered and move the ship from lock to lock. The ships don't use there engines at all until there in the Cut. As the ship moves up or down in the locks, the cables are either tightened or loosened. Depending on how fast someone reacts to tell the mules to tighten or loosen the cables, the ships will shift there position from the center of the locks, and with 2 feet of room, its not uncommon for a ship to touch.

Heres the catch. The Panama Canal is the only place in the world, that a capt will relinquish command of his ship. What the pilot says goes. Theres good pilots and not so good. Sounds like the Magic got a not so good.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

Id be surprised if any ship makes it thru un scathed. Looking at the dimensions, the original locks are 110 feet wide and the Magic class are 106 feet wide. That leave 2 feet on each side clearance. In the old lock system, when a ship transits the locks, the electric mules run cables out to the ships, to keep them centered and move the ship from lock to lock. The ships don't use there engines at all until there in the Cut. As the ship moves up or down in the locks, the cables are either tightened or loosened. Depending on how fast someone reacts to tell the mules to tighten or loosen the cables, the ships will shift there position from the center of the locks, and with 2 feet of room, its not uncommon for a ship to touch.

Heres the catch. The Panama Canal is the only place in the world, that a capt will relinquish command of his ship. What the pilot says goes. Theres good pilots and not so good. Sounds like the Magic got a not so good.

Even on a US Navy ship the Capt will relinquish control?

 

[truck1]

Fun facts about the canal. During WWII, the Essex class carriers, when they transited the canal, had to have the light stations removed from the locks, because of the carriers overhangs.

The largest beam (width) ship to transit the old locks were the Iowa class battleships at 108 feet wide.

 

[truck1]

Even on a US Navy ship the Capt will relinquish control?

That's a grey area I'm really not sure about. I think there is still some sort of agreement about US military ships transiting the canal, basically saying they have priority but never really thought about the pilot issue.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

That's a grey area I'm really not sure about. I think there is still some sort of agreement about US military ships transiting the canal, basically saying they have priority but never really thought about the pilot issue.

I would think they'd have to retain control, otherwise they could become a target. On a side note and probably something for a different forum, but there's some US Navy ships out there that you don't want to mess with. The defense and attack systems they can deploy are almost mind boggling. Just saw that on a documentary.

 

[truck1]

I would think they'd have to retain control, otherwise they could become a target. On a side note and probably something for a different forum, but there's some US Navy ships out there that you don't want to mess with. The defense and attack systems they can deploy are almost mind boggling. Just saw that on a documentary.

Theres probably some sort of agreement in place, that basically says that the pilot maybe in charge, but they are restricted to certain parts of the ship, and only in regard to the transit operations. Something like that. I wouldn't be surprised, if they didn't have some sort of armed escort.

 

[truck1]

I would think they'd have to retain control, otherwise they could become a target. On a side note and probably something for a different forum, but there's some US Navy ships out there that you don't want to mess with. The defense and attack systems they can deploy are almost mind boggling. Just saw that on a documentary.

Btw, the USS Hornet transiting the canal.

https://afatherswarstorynevertold.f.../06/us-carrier-going-through-panama-canal.jpg

 

[Neptune's Fork]

Theres probably some sort of agreement in place, that basically says that the pilot maybe in charge, but they are restricted to certain parts of the ship, and only in regard to the transit operations. Something like that. I wouldn't be surprised, if they didn't have some sort of armed escort.

Yeah I could almost guarantee they have air cover.

 

[Ravenne]

Heres the catch. The Panama Canal is the only place in the world, that a capt will relinquish command of his ship. What the pilot says goes. Theres good pilots and not so good. Sounds like the Magic got a not so good.

Is this still the case with the new, bigger locks? Do captains still relinquish command of his ship?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Don't know which submarine it was, but we were accompanied through the canal on our 2008 transit by a US sub:

 

[Neptune's Fork]

Don't know which submarine it was, but we were accompanied through the canal on our 2008 transit by a US sub:
View attachment 237154

That was your protection.

 

[scrapperkimmydee]

When I cruised last, the ramp you walk up on fell away from the ship. Good thing no one was on it.

 

[truck1]

Is this still the case with the new, bigger locks? Do captains still relinquish command of his ship?

Yes. Nothing in that respect changed other then imstead of the electric mules, they now use tugs in the mew locks. Which dont have near the accuracy that the mules do.

 

[phinz]

Don't know which submarine it was, but we were accompanied through the canal on our 2008 transit by a US sub:
View attachment 237154

http://www.czbrats.com/Photos/uzonyi/subgatunlocks.htm

 

[Neptune's Fork]

http://www.czbrats.com/Photos/uzonyi/subgatunlocks.htm

That was from 2008, are you saying that was the same sub?

 

[phinz]

That was from 2008, are you saying that was the same sub?

Very likely, since Schmoo's transit was in 2008.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Very likely, since Schmoo's transit was in 2008.

But we transited in May, not February.