'Panama Canal about to close to yachts'

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Hurleyburly

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\'Panama Canal about to close to yachts\'

When ?

I haven't heard anything of this at all until I read it on Scuttlebutt.

Anyone know any more ?

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Re: \'Panama Canal about to close to yachts\'

My info source is the same as Ken's. It sounds like the management of the canal is in something of a mess. The three yacht clubs (one Atlantic side, one Pacific, one in the middle) have effectively been told to close down and the canal management refuse to answer queries or complaints delivered by any communication method.

At the same time, although only briefly covered by CA, it seems there are access problems in the Magellan Strait area, leaving very few options for circumnavigators.

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Re: \'Panama Canal about to close to yachts\'

Is this not why why pay our subs to lobby groups such as RYA and CA ???

Surely they should be bringing pressure to bear on the new management of the canal for answers.

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Re: \'Panama Canal about to close to yachts\'

CA has been unable to get a response of any kind. It is suggesting members also join in pressuring. If I can find the mag (but it may have been put out in the recycling), I'll precis the article here.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>
 
Re: \'Panama Canal about to close to yachts\'

There seems to be a lot of conflicting info or ‘urban myth’ about this. I believe that only the Pedro Miguel Boat Club is being forced to close/relocate and transiting yachts (as of Jan 03) are prohibited from stopping there. The Club is fighting this decision through legal recourse.

As far as the other clubs, reported info from Craig Owings, Commodore, Pedro Miguel Boat Club:

“The Balboa Yacht Club has recently been awarded water rights for the area currently occupied, including the foundation of the old club house, there are no plans to move the location.”

“The Panama Canal has a current lease with the Panama Ports organisation that has 16 months to run and neither side has indicated that the lease will not be renewed.”

“Yachters have more places to stay than before with the opening of the Flamenco Yacht Club on the Pacific side of Panama at the end of the canal causeway.”

“Additionally there are 3 more yacht club/marina facilities in the development stages on the Pacific side and two on the Atlantic side of Panama.”

More info can be found on the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.noonsite.com/Members/doina/R2002-11-14-2>Noonsite website</A>. Noonsite doesn’t seem to mention anything about the Canal closing to yachts.

As I said, this is reported info, just adding it into the discussion, can’t vouch for its accuracy. I have never cruised the Panama Canal, but plan to sometime in the future, so follow with interest.

Cheers

Wayne


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Commercial realities?

There is occasional discussion of this topic on US boards.

One view is that the canal earns maybe $50,000 from a ship transit, but as 20 or so yachts is the maximum through locks, to be competitive the charge would have to be a minimum of $2,500 per yacht. I think it is $550 at present. Plus the yachts get in the way of ships and the canal authorities have been bothered by a number of accidents with insurance claims recently.

At this sort of rate, it would probably be more economic to run a road haulage system across, maybe even in southern Mexico instead of Panama, rather than use the canal for yachts.

I've heard nothing about threatened closure. As WayneA says, the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.noonsite.com/>Noonsight</A> web site has been monitoring the situation regarding the leases of the three clubs on Commission land: it seems that these might not be renewed though it is the Pedro Miguel club that is most at threat. In the past these clubs have been crucial to organising transit, though there are now commercial agencies.
 
Re: \'Panama Canal about to close to yachts\'

I was on the stand yesterday. Most of the handout copies of Cruising were a year or so old. There was a current issue available, but not as a handout.

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Re: \'Panama Canal about to close to yachts\'

I have found the article in question published in the Autumn '03 CA 'Cruising' magazine. 'Trouble in the Panama Canal' by Ted Osborn, with contribution by Craig Owings, Commodore of Pedro Miguel Boat Club at Miraflores.

Although the tone of the article very much gives the impression that the Canal is closing to yachts, it doesn't actually say that it will. That being the case, I can understand a reader coming away with the idea that it did.

The main thread of the article is focused on the belief that since the canal became a profit responsible Panamanian government company (ACP) in 1998 the attitude toward yachts has gone downhill. It is reported that ACP have actively discouraged yachts from using the canal, increasing fees, forced closer of essential yacht/boat clubs and generally made it harder and harder for yachts to make the transit. The article then states no-one knows quite why ACP is taking such action against yachting facilities but consensus seems to be that major widening of the canal, which is planned, would require large land-take. Therefore ACP are trying to remove facilities without paying compensation.

Craig Owings now thinks that world-wide publicity is the only way forward to ensure continuous ability for yachts to use the canal. He asks that any cruisers that have, or plan to, transit the canal should write in complaint to the authorities and in support of the clubs.

Addresses of interest:

www.pmbc.ws/htmls/acp/helpus.html detail of PMBC legal action.

commodore@pmbc.ws (Craig Owings email)

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.pancanal.com>www.pancanal.com</A> Panama Canal website.

ofasin@presidencia.gob.pa (President Mireya Moscoso, Republic of Panama)

Valerio@psi.net.pa (Jerry Salazar A. Minister of Canal)

aaleman@pancanal.com (Alberto Aleman Zubieta, Administrator of Canal)

----------------

Wayne

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