Photo courtesy of Panama Canal Authority
Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced that the Panama Canal Expansion will officially be opened this June.
Originally scheduled for October 2014, the official inauguration of the “third locks” is scheduled for June 26, 2016 after multiple delays due to materials failures, disputes over costs, and worker strikes.
Photo courtesy of Panama Canal Authority
The new set of locks are 1,400 feet long, 140 feet wide and 60 feet deep and will allow 13,000 to 14,000 TEU post-Panamax vessels to pass through the waterway, compared to 5,000 TEU vessels in the Panama Canal’s 2 existing locks.
Photo courtesy of Panama Canal Authority
Panama Canal officials say the project is 97% complete. Commercial operations are expected to commence following the inauguration ceremony.
posted by Mai Armstrong for the Working Harbor Committee
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May 1, 2016 at 9:35 am
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