Cayman Islands Musicians Association Meeting to Discuss Harbour Nights

New Panama Canal locks open, Caribbean Princess will be first cruise ship to use them

By John Rosca

Caribbean Princess is set to be the first mega-ship cruise vessel to use the new locks of the Panama Canal expansion project. The "Panamax" locks opened on June 26, 2016.

(Photo : Princess Cruises)

The Panama Canal celebrated the opening of its new locks on June the 26th, marking the culmination of the nearly decade-long, $5.4-billion "Panamax" expansion. The project's inauguration signaled the beginning of "a new era in global trade," proclaimed a headline in the LA Times.

A crowd of 30,000 showed up to witness the Chinese flagbearer "COSCO Shipping Panama" become the first commercial vessel to pass through the Agua Clara locks on the Atlantic side of the canal. The 158-foot-wide container ship could not possibly have entered the old locks, which only admitted craft with a maximum width of 106 feet.

When it first opened in 1914, the Panama Canal could handle traffic from ships bearing as many as 5,500 containers. The expansion allows passage by "post-Panamax" ships carrying more than twice that capacity, up to 13,000 containers. The inaugural vessel carried a load of 9,000 containers.

Similar mega-ships are expected to begin using the locks, including one post-Panamax vessel operated by Princess Cruises. USA Today reported that the cruise line's 118-foot-wide "Caribbean Princess" is scheduled to traverse the new locks on a voyage that launches in Oct 21, 2017.

"Caribbean Princess" is likely to be the first mega cruise ship to make use of the Panama Canal expansion. Disney Cruise Line has also scheduled voyages using the new locks for 2017, although its ship, the Disney Wonder, is not a post-Panamax vessel and can fit in the old locks.

The Celebrity Cruises, Holland America and Royal Caribbean cruise lines, which operate mega-ships, do not currently have plans to send them through the new locks, according to Travel Weekly. The expansion does not appear to be affecting the recreational travel industry nearly as much as it does commercial shipping.

Panamax greatly reduces voyage length for mega-ships in what could be a huge boon to the freight industry. The Christian Science Monitor reported that while the pre-expansion canal could accommodate only 6% of the world's liquefied natural gas tankers, the improvements enable access to 90% of the current global fleet.

But the LA Times story notes that the ongoing slowdown in the global freight traffic will cut into expected revenue for the canal, which means that it will take a while to recoup the multibillion-dollar investment in the project. In addition, many American ports are not quite ready to handle super-sized post-Panamax vessels.

For more: http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/24756/20160706/new-panama-canal-locks-open-caribbean-princess-will-first-cruise.htm

COMMUNITY EVENTS (Date Order)

SAT JULY 9

Grand Mr. Ivan Lunch Truck/Canteen reunion

All students who attended the Cayman Islands High School between Sept 1973 and June 1987 are invited to a Grand Mr. Ivan Lunch Truck/Canteen reunion at the Turtle Farm on Saturday (9 Jul) from 3 — 11pm.

Imagination Playground at Camana Bay

Imagination Playground invites kids to build, dream and explore with giant foam blocks at fountains at Camana Bay’s Town Centre’s. The event is held every Tuesday and Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm and is free and open to the public.

SUN JULY 10

Good News Baptist Church Teen Rally

The Good News Baptist Church is holding a teen rally from July 10-14 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm each night.

FNSports Paradise Triathlon and Duathlon

FNSports Paradise Triathlon and Duathlon is Sunday (10 Jul) at 645am. Log on to caymanactive.com for more details.

Cayman bRUNch 5 — 10K

The Cayman bRUNch 5 — 10K is Sunday (10 Jul) at VIVO Restaurant in West Bay at Lighthouse Point. Check in is 6am. Log on to caymanactive.com for more information.

MON JULY 11

Teen Summit

The Youth Services Unit is hosting a special Teen Summit Monday – Friday (11 — 15 Jul.) The summit will take place at the University College of the Cayman Islands between 8.30 a.m. — 2.00 p.m. for $50 per camper. Registration forms can be found online at www.ysu.gov.ky.

Vacation Bible School

Red Bay Church of God Holiness will hold Vacation Bible School for ages 3-12 Monday — Friday (11- 15 July) from 6:30 – 9PM.

Vacation Bible School

The George Town Wesleyan Holiness Church in Windsor Park is hosting its Vacation Bible School Monday — Friday (11 — 15 Jul) from 9 a.m. – 12 noon

CINICO Billing Malfunction

The Cayman Islands Health Services Authority wishes to advise the public that due to a malfunction in our automated billing system our CINICO insured patients may receive a statement indicating an incorrect balance. Call Patient Financial Services at 244-7506 for more information.

FRI JULY 15

SAT JULY 16

Lookya with Mango Season at the Museum

The National Museum presents Lookya with Mango Season at the Museum on Saturday (16 Jul) from 3- 8pm.

MON JULY 18

Vacation Bible School

The Churches of God Holiness Spot Bay and Watering Place are hosting Vacation Bible School Monday — Friday (18 — 22 Jul) from 6-8pm daily at the Watering Place location. Call 948-0214 for more information

THU JULY 21

THU JULY 28

July Events at Camana Bay

Next month’s public holiday on Monday, 4 July will have a fireworks extravaganza not to be missed. Kids won’t be bored this summer with a variety of camps for all ages, outdoor movies shown under the stars every Tuesday and a summer splash party with prizes to be won. Grownups will enjoy summer savings as the shops mark down prices for one day only and ladies will have the chance to enjoy a ‘healthified’ three-course menu. Moviegoers are also in for a real treat as Regal Cinemas shows the ballet classic, One Man, Two Guvnors.

For more details on our summer festivities, camps and offers; visit camanabay.com/summer.

Here is a quick look at our summer camps:

6th Annual Multi-Sport Camp

5 through 8 July (Week 1), 11 through 15 July (Week 2) and

25 through 29 July (Week 3)

8am-12pm

Camana Bay Sports Complex

Starfish Village Summer Camp

5 July through 25 August

8am-3pm

Starfish Village

Shutterbugs Photography Camp

Mondays, 11 July through 15 August (Ages 8-11) and

Fridays, 15 July through 19 August (Ages 11-16)

9am-12pm,

Picture This Studios

Budding Chef Summer Camp

11 through 15 July

12-1pm

Bon Vivant

8th Annual Basketball Camp

18 through 22 July

8:30am-4pm

The Arts & Recreation Centre

Here is a quick look at our special events:

End-of-School Kids Disco Party

Moonlight & Movies

Tuesdays, July through August

7pm

Gardenia Court

Patriotic Festival

Monday 4 July

5-8pm

The Crescent

Summer Sidewalk Sale

Saturday 9 July

11am

Town Centre

Abacus Restaurant Takeover with Nadine Dumas

Tuesday 12 July

5:30-7:30pm

Abacus

The Bookends Club

Wednesday 13 July

6:30-7:30pm

Books & Books

Ross Tibbetts Book Signing

Friday 15 July

6:30pm

Books & Books

Culture at the Cinema: One Man, Two Guvnors

Saturday 16 July

7pm

Regal Cinemas

Floetry

Wednesday 20 July

6:30-7:30pm

Books & Books

Summer Splash

Saturday 23 July

2-7pm

The Crescent