Thanks for keeping the updates so interesting. It is many years since I travelled in that part of the world – All the delays and frustrations were part of the ‘adventure’ and as i was responsible for a whole heap of equipment (as production manager for a film crew) deadlines had some pretty serious financial implications. I also rekon I met the bloke who wanted just to ‘wait it out to the end of the day’ although, on reflection maybe you met his son! For the team and SRZero, best wishes for the coming month – and keep up the blog!

We have been searching for more than cosmetic information about
the Panama Lock Control Systems and have learned that the original
infrastructure created the footprint for the adaptation of the modern
Bosch Rexroth Hydraulic Solution which is safer and economical , avoiding
downtime due to reduced maintenance requirements and operations downtime .
“ The specially designed and manufactured control system, including PLC
( Programmable logic Control ) , Ethernet and fibre optics , has become
the backbone of the complete lock operating machinery . The PLC-based
control system communicates via fibre optic technology with a backup
Ethernet link which is part of the central data system .
Previously, the control sequence used handles for each lock station .
This required the operator to reach and manually turn handles until the
lock was at the appropriate position. Now , with the hydraulic upgrade ,
the operator controls the lock from one station, eliminating the need
to manually turn the control handles . As a result, there is also a
reduction in the manpower required in the control room .
Operators can also monitor performance , allowing for maximum operating
efficiency and streamlining data acquisition for preventive maintenance .”
– courtesy of Google .

It is pity that today when we have available information technology and
supporting hardware , we are still being subjected to long undignified
delays at customs , borders and frontiers . A couple of close circuit
TV’s and a few laptop computers would make the job of the authority
enjoyably quicker so that there is no need for mountains of earth denuding
paper to fill out , where the information is logged in ONCE , which is
then migrated to the various sections in the electronic questionnaire
and then dispatched via the Ethernet or printed out with the appropriate
scanned or captured photos to the relevant operational departments and in
less than an hour the go ahead may be exercised to proceed through the
border controls , where after the authorities may put their feet up with
the assurance that the job has promptly been well done receiving our
blessings to top it all .

Despite all these delays , as they say , the show must go on
and we wish you our fondest admiration from Ladysmith
( Kwazulu Natal ) in sunny South Africa , Charles and friends .