Opening of new locks at Panama Canal delayed?

A stress testing of the new Pacific locks for the Panama Canal revealed seepage in a section that separates the middle and lower chambers.

Although they were being tested through exposure to “level differentials much higher than those required for normal operations”, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) warned in a statement that the water seepage “may occur during dry-chamber maintenance works in the future”.

Following detailed inspections by the Spanish-led consortium, Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC), responsible for the expansion works, the ACP is now waiting for the formal report.

This will include details of the root cause analysis conducted and the recommended repair method.

After evaluating the full report, the ACP will assess whether the planned 2016 opening of the third set of locks will be delayed.