NEPTUNE OF MARSTAL HAS PASSED THE PANAMA CANAL
The good ship NEPTUN left Marstal harbor and set out on a longer circumnavigation – now the ship is in financial difficulties and is looking for one or more investors.
It is early morning in Panama, and the mist is slowly lifting from the rainforest, while the chirping of birds and the roar of monkeys fill the air with exotic sounds.
Captain Ovesen looks at the horizon, because on this otherwise peaceful morning, the ship awaits a very special guest.
Since the hurricane season started in the Caribbean archipelago, the schooner has been well and safely south of the many low pressures that have ravaged the area. The sometimes strong winds have taken the ship along the coast of South America, past the Dutch ABC islands and down the coast of Columbia to Panama, where the ship is now off the entrance to the canal. The air is warm, thick and humid, and the first downpour of the morning can come at any moment.
On board are 12 excited crew members who have heard great words about the journey they are about to experience.
An outboard motor starts to be heard far away and the sound intensifies as a small half-destroyed fiberglass boat comes closer to the ship. It’s the channel pilot.
The pilot comes on board and presses Mr. Ovesen in hand, he speaks mainly Spanish.
From within the idyll of the rainforest, the old SULZER engine can suddenly be heard as it starts up and leaves behind a cloud of black smoke that slowly disappears over the sea.
Quietly, the ship approaches the large old riveted gates to the locks in the canal, and on both sides of the gates the canal trains pull the larger ships. NEPTUNE follows faithfully.
After the first three locks, there is a long voyage over Panamanian land, where the rainforest spills over the large lake from all sides. Tonight the ship will lie in the middle of this jungle lake, and tomorrow the final distance will be covered through the last three channels with the course set for Panama City.
Although the heat is oppressive, there is no bathing from the ship’s side tonight. Because in the lake’s water, alligators and other reptiles lurk beneath the surface, while life continues its steady course aboard the good ship NEPTUN.
