Piloting the Panama Canal

Book excerpt: Through the eyes of the author who spent many exciting years as a pilot responsible for guiding American and foreign vessels through the treacherous waters of the Panama Canal, the reader sees life as it truly was along the most famous canal in the world. Along the way, the reader will meet the famous, as well as the more notorious people who moved through this intriguing land, such as Noreiga. The reader will be introduced to the Americans living and working the waterway, referred to as “Zonians.” The job of the pilot was to guide ships through the Panama Canal. It was a challenging, but essential job that called for great expertise. With the job came respect and close working relationships with captains of ships from around the world. A good paying, but dangerous duty on board ship meant for a fast life in the Canal community. In this book, the author shares with the reader the intimate details of the life he lived while plying his trade in one of the most exotic spots to be found on this Earth.