1242h EST Sun. Jan.4/26
In response to member :
I see David on the Panama map. Yes, you certainly are at quite a distance from accessing the canal!
However, for those of us trying to follow the crane tow...well, it’s a guessing game.
If you have a computer I guess you might just keep checking the site...pancanal.com and access the webcams as I am doing.
I am thinking that the U.S. navy is maybe trying to keep this thing under wraps. There appears to be nothing on the web originating from or anywhere near the tow.
I follow from the map of ais on shipinfo, the weather services, and anything that might show up on Boatnerd.
Good to see at least 1 other person interested in this. Shipping-wise, I think it’s a real big deal!
Good luck!
port of Manitowoc shipment
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Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
1242h EST Sun. Jan.4/26
In response to member :
I see David on the Panama map. Yes, you certainly are at quite a distance from accessing the canal!
However, for those of us trying to follow the crane tow...well, it’s a guessing game.
If you have a computer I guess you might just keep checking the site...pancanal.com and access the webcams as I am doing.
I am thinking that the U.S. navy is maybe trying to keep this thing under wraps. There appears to be nothing on the web originating from or anywhere near the tow.
I follow from the map of ais on shipinfo, the weather services, and anything that might show up on Boatnerd.
Good to see at least 1 other person interested in this. Shipping-wise, I think it’s a real big deal!
Good luck!
In response to member :
I see David on the Panama map. Yes, you certainly are at quite a distance from accessing the canal!
However, for those of us trying to follow the crane tow...well, it’s a guessing game.
If you have a computer I guess you might just keep checking the site...pancanal.com and access the webcams as I am doing.
I am thinking that the U.S. navy is maybe trying to keep this thing under wraps. There appears to be nothing on the web originating from or anywhere near the tow.
I follow from the map of ais on shipinfo, the weather services, and anything that might show up on Boatnerd.
Good to see at least 1 other person interested in this. Shipping-wise, I think it’s a real big deal!
Good luck!
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Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
Writing at 1118h EDT Sun. Jan.4/2
Ocean Tower and Crane have not moved appreciably since last nights report. Still in approach waters to Panama Canal at Colon making small movements according to tracking trace lines on shipinfo.net map.
Weather is around 24 C, humidity 94%!, wind 5 knots some scattered showers are about.
Ocean Tower and Crane have not moved appreciably since last nights report. Still in approach waters to Panama Canal at Colon making small movements according to tracking trace lines on shipinfo.net map.
Weather is around 24 C, humidity 94%!, wind 5 knots some scattered showers are about.
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Rcrvrp
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
I am in David in western Panama and won’t be able to leave this area for the canal until the 8th.
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Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
I am writing at 22257h EST on Sat. Jan. 3,2026
I checked position of Ocean Tower-Crane tow at mid afternoon today. shipinfo.net map has them at Colon Panama.
The tracking tracer shows some random movement within a very limited range of distance. I checked port of Colon website arrivals. No sign of Ocean Tower having come to Port. Also checked for canal entry queue as well as vessels in transit of the canal. No sign of Ocean Tower-Crane tow. Looked at Gatun Locks webcam on pancanal.com. No sign of the tow.
Weather looks ideal...24 deg.C, wind 4 knots. In response to an earlier report of mine; a member of this forum said they were planning to be at the canal to see the tow. I wonder if that individual is on site there and may chime in to us based on what my research shows.
I checked position of Ocean Tower-Crane tow at mid afternoon today. shipinfo.net map has them at Colon Panama.
The tracking tracer shows some random movement within a very limited range of distance. I checked port of Colon website arrivals. No sign of Ocean Tower having come to Port. Also checked for canal entry queue as well as vessels in transit of the canal. No sign of Ocean Tower-Crane tow. Looked at Gatun Locks webcam on pancanal.com. No sign of the tow.
Weather looks ideal...24 deg.C, wind 4 knots. In response to an earlier report of mine; a member of this forum said they were planning to be at the canal to see the tow. I wonder if that individual is on site there and may chime in to us based on what my research shows.
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Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
Reporting 0958h EST on January 2/2026
The Ocean Tower crane tow is at the same position as last nights report.
The track line on map shows some small movements around the spot they were.
Weather synopsis from NWS/ marine, Colon Panama indicates some wind but nothing of significance.
The Ocean Tower crane tow is at the same position as last nights report.
The track line on map shows some small movements around the spot they were.
Weather synopsis from NWS/ marine, Colon Panama indicates some wind but nothing of significance.
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Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
It is 00:37 on Friday, January 2/26
Guest wrote in on Manitowoc Shipment thread requests cam info for Panama Canal re: Ocean Tower crane tow.
PanCanal.com is their site. Yes I was looking at webcams of canal. At my last check on shipinfo.net; tow seems to be stopped maybe 80-90 miles off Colon, Panama. Let us know if this helped.
No, you’re not selfish. Just doing what you need to do.
Guest wrote in on Manitowoc Shipment thread requests cam info for Panama Canal re: Ocean Tower crane tow.
PanCanal.com is their site. Yes I was looking at webcams of canal. At my last check on shipinfo.net; tow seems to be stopped maybe 80-90 miles off Colon, Panama. Let us know if this helped.
No, you’re not selfish. Just doing what you need to do.
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Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
It is 0923 EST on Thursday, January 1, 2026.
The tow appears to be in the same position as when I reported roughly 8 hours ago.
The tow appears to be in the same position as when I reported roughly 8 hours ago.
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Guest
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
I hope the canal delays their passage for several days as I am in western Panamá and will not be able to leave for the canal for 9 days. Does that make me selfish?😆
Does anyone have a link to a live cam at one of the canal locks?
Does anyone have a link to a live cam at one of the canal locks?
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Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
Best New Years wishes for health, peace, and the most happiness you can rally in 2026!
Yes, I am writing this at 0120h EST January 1 2026.
Our tow crew must be having a whale of a time on Ocean Tower this morning. I calculate using the scale at the bottom of the map....they are roughly 90 miles off of Colon Panama. I imagine they may be able to see a glow in the sky from the lights there.
The weather synopsis from NWS reports a cooling front crossing from eastern Cuba to the eastern coast of Nicaragua affecting the central Caribbean with cool winds varying in strength from a “fresh” breeze to a “moderate” wind creating ]sea swells.
This synopsis gave no actual numbers as to temperature, wind speed, or wave heights. These affects will be about on Thursday and dissipate starting Friday.
To me it will be interesting to see how quickly the crane tow will be allowed to enter the canal and start its transit towards the Pacific Ocean.
Yes, I am writing this at 0120h EST January 1 2026.
Our tow crew must be having a whale of a time on Ocean Tower this morning. I calculate using the scale at the bottom of the map....they are roughly 90 miles off of Colon Panama. I imagine they may be able to see a glow in the sky from the lights there.
The weather synopsis from NWS reports a cooling front crossing from eastern Cuba to the eastern coast of Nicaragua affecting the central Caribbean with cool winds varying in strength from a “fresh” breeze to a “moderate” wind creating ]sea swells.
This synopsis gave no actual numbers as to temperature, wind speed, or wave heights. These affects will be about on Thursday and dissipate starting Friday.
To me it will be interesting to see how quickly the crane tow will be allowed to enter the canal and start its transit towards the Pacific Ocean.
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guest
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
Thanks for the update. I am at the starting point of this trip Manitowoc
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Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
It is 00:31h as this report is being written on Dec. 31/25...
The Ocean Tower and Crane are at mid Caribbean Sea.She is about 4-500 km East of Nicaragua, about 150- 200 km East of a tiny island..St Andre. As to distance from Colon, Panama...the queue point for the canal;I am estimating that it looks to be about 450- 500 km.
A recent cold front swept the region leaving strong winds and rough seas in its wake.These conditions are expected for today and perhaps until Thursday morning according to the NWS regional synopsis of Tuesday night.
Best wishes for 2026 to Denny,and B’nerd users who are monitoring the tow of a lifetime (at least for me). Feels good to know others are following along here.
The Ocean Tower and Crane are at mid Caribbean Sea.She is about 4-500 km East of Nicaragua, about 150- 200 km East of a tiny island..St Andre. As to distance from Colon, Panama...the queue point for the canal;I am estimating that it looks to be about 450- 500 km.
A recent cold front swept the region leaving strong winds and rough seas in its wake.These conditions are expected for today and perhaps until Thursday morning according to the NWS regional synopsis of Tuesday night.
Best wishes for 2026 to Denny,and B’nerd users who are monitoring the tow of a lifetime (at least for me). Feels good to know others are following along here.
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Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
It is 1156h EST Sun. Dec.28/25.
As I write; the crane tow is Caribbean Gulf of Honduras over 100 miles off the coast of Belize. To starboard is Belize City. To Port is Jamaica, over 100 miles east.
Weather is getting hot at 25-29 deg. C under a mix of cloudy-sunny skies with rain showers forecast.Winds are at 7 knots. The local time is 1102h.
As I write; the crane tow is Caribbean Gulf of Honduras over 100 miles off the coast of Belize. To starboard is Belize City. To Port is Jamaica, over 100 miles east.
Weather is getting hot at 25-29 deg. C under a mix of cloudy-sunny skies with rain showers forecast.Winds are at 7 knots. The local time is 1102h.
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Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
It is 1156h EST Sun. Dec.28/25.
As I write; the crane tow is Caribbean Gulf of Honduras over 100 miles off the coast of Belize. To starboard is Belize City. To Port is Jamaica, over 100 miles east.
Weather is getting hot at 25-29 deg. C under a mix of cloudy-sunny skies with rain showers forecast.Winds are at 7 knots. The local time is 1102h.
As I write; the crane tow is Caribbean Gulf of Honduras over 100 miles off the coast of Belize. To starboard is Belize City. To Port is Jamaica, over 100 miles east.
Weather is getting hot at 25-29 deg. C under a mix of cloudy-sunny skies with rain showers forecast.Winds are at 7 knots. The local time is 1102h.
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Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
For Rcrvrp and others wondering about the speed of Ocean Tower on the BIG Blue Crane tow.Generally, the tow is moving in the 5-8 knot range. Sea and wind conditions play a big role in governing this.
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Rcrvrp
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
Thank you for the continuing reports. When it is moving in favorable conditions about how many knots per hour is it moving?
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Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
It is 2137h EST Fri. Dec. 26/25
Thanks for the “merry Christmas” from a user following this thread.
I think I neglected to wish Denny and his crew who keep all the facets of this thing on course and heading heading from their wheelhouse and into the ether for we followers to enjoy a very healthy and rewarding completion of the course to and through Christmas or seasonal festivity.
Now....the BIG tow....today they’ve passed from the Straits of Florida and are entering the Yucatan Channel. We can hope the boys (and maybe a lady or two) have been able to take in, appreciate, and even sleep easier than in those early December days coming through the winds and seas back north round Nova Scotia and on down the east coast.
NWS says to me that it should be a grand night of sailing out there...Temperature is around 70 and the sky is clear. Wind is S 10- 15 knots and the sea is running 2-3 feet.Last night off Havana the distance to Colon, Panama was about 837 miles. They’re probably now down to 650 -750 nm. The Blue crane tow has been in operation since leaving Manitowoc WI on Nov. 18.
Thanks for the “merry Christmas” from a user following this thread.
I think I neglected to wish Denny and his crew who keep all the facets of this thing on course and heading heading from their wheelhouse and into the ether for we followers to enjoy a very healthy and rewarding completion of the course to and through Christmas or seasonal festivity.
Now....the BIG tow....today they’ve passed from the Straits of Florida and are entering the Yucatan Channel. We can hope the boys (and maybe a lady or two) have been able to take in, appreciate, and even sleep easier than in those early December days coming through the winds and seas back north round Nova Scotia and on down the east coast.
NWS says to me that it should be a grand night of sailing out there...Temperature is around 70 and the sky is clear. Wind is S 10- 15 knots and the sea is running 2-3 feet.Last night off Havana the distance to Colon, Panama was about 837 miles. They’re probably now down to 650 -750 nm. The Blue crane tow has been in operation since leaving Manitowoc WI on Nov. 18.