Vagabond Voyages · video

What this video covers

Navigating the Panama Canal without a professional agent requires significant administrative effort, patience, and direct communication with the Panama Canal Authority.1:43 Anissia and Tom, sailing a catamaran, managed their transit by creating an account on the official canal website, submitting measurements, and paying the transit fees via e-banking.0:35 Despite paying in advance, the crew faced scheduling errors, last-minute fee increases, and communication gaps that necessitated multiple phone calls and emails to the Marine Traffic Coordination office.9:22 The crew prepared for the transit at Shelter Bay Marina, where they rented lines and fenders for $140 and arranged for a pilot and four line handlers.7:49 The transit took one day, starting at 4:30 a.m. and involving three locks on the Atlantic side, a transit across Gatun Lake, and three locks on the Pacific side.9:17 The pilot required a hot meal for the crew and handlers.9:59 Successfully transiting without an agent demands constant follow-up to confirm scheduling and payment status.5:01

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