By U Than Zaw (Ex-RO, Mercantile Marine)
The Panama Pass is very skillfully constructed by American engineers to obtain a short-cut passageway from Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean or from the west coast of the U.S.A to the east coast of the U.S.A by passing conveniently from Panama-pass; otherwise, all ocean liner vessels have to go via very lengthy voyage around the cape of Chile, of South America. Because, American Continent extends too long from the extreme north towards the extreme south containing countries of the North, South of Central America voyaging in a lengthy way is a sheer waste of time and very costly and; uneconomical for the mercantile world.
Panama is in the area of the mountainous and hilly region in central America. So, do you know how could the ocean liner vessels mountaineering Panama-pass? American engineers in those days are so praised worthy. They sorted out ways of passage over or climbing mountain by ships conveniently as such; all ships are anchored around Balboa port under waiting list; first of all, there are stages of the extra-large seawater tank which rooms for all types or tonnages of mercantile marine vessels.
At first, they top up the 1st tank with sea-water, preference ship has taken place; so, it was raised to a certain height of the mountain.
At the 2nd stage, that raised ship is towed by the vehicles from both sides of the 2ne tank. Then the tank is topped up with seawater and the ship is towed to the 3rd and the last tank and finally becomes the same level with the level of Panama lake and then the ship itself sails to the other bank of the lake where Cristobal Port is situated. Then only the ship climbs down stage by stage systematically to the east coast U.S.A or western east of the Atlantic Ocean in Mexico Gulf.
In that same way, our ship MV Ocean Prosper, owned by Ocean Shipping Co Ltd, Hong Kong, was chartered by Mitsui O.S.K Lines Ltd, Yokohama, Japan, passed Panama passage and did loading unloading along the east coast of U.S.A right up to Brazilian ports, Argentina ports and our ship sailed towards east crossing Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, African coast, Cape Town etc, passing south of Sea of Bengal, then called in Singapore port for refuelling and proceeded sail towards east passing Taiwan Strait, arrived again at Yokohama port Japan. We made around the world voyages travelling towards the east. It lasts for four and half months for one round global voyage.
