Americas News
Panama Says Cracked Lock Will Not Delay Opening
Despite concerns that leaks from cracks in the locks would delay the opening of the newly expanded Panama Canal, The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Wednesday said the completion date will remain as April 2016, an ACP media release states.
The statement was based on the latest findings from Grupo Unidos por el Canal, S.A. (GUPC), the contractor responsible for the design and construction of the Third Set of Locks where the seepages are located.
However, because GUPC only gave a verbal indication that the completion date will remain the same, the ACP is awaiting formal confirmation from a report that will also include the cause of the seepages.
"As this process evolves and subsequent to our evaluation of GUPC's findings, the ACP will continue to assess the situation and communicate next steps," ACP said in its statement.
GUPC, which is responsible for the locks' design and construction and for all corrections that may be required, recently wrote that the seepages were caused by insufficient steel reinforcement.
GUPC said in addition to performing these reinforcements, it will reinforce the first and second sill in the Cocoli Locks and the first three sills in the Atlantic-facing Agua Clara Locks, even though these sills have not yet produced seepage.
The ACP's statement supports findings from its international trade specialist Javier Carrillo, who in September said the opening would not be affected because time for repairs had already been included the expansion project schedule.
