New Panama Canal Locks to Open in June

Newly expanded Panama Canal set to be inaugurated on June 26, officials say

Published March 23, 2016Fox News Latino

Panama Canal expansion latino.jpg

A view of Panama Canal expansion project on Friday, March 18, 2016. (AP)

Better late than never.

Originally scheduled to be concluded in October 2014, the newly expanded Panama Canal will be inaugurated on June 26, Panama announced on Wednesday.

The canal, which links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, underwent an extensive renovation to allow modern, larger cargo ships through its locks.

But the $5.2 billion face-lift was plagued by a string of work stoppages and disputes with the Italian conglomerate behind the expansion — the date of the inauguration has been pushed back on several occasions due to repairs, strikes and contractual disputes between the Panama Canal Authority and the consortium.

The project includes wider locks with mechanical gates that will reduce congestion and be able accommodate post-Panamax vessels, which are as long as three football fields and have the capacity to carry about 2.5 times the number of containers held by ships currently using the canal.

International shipping had literally outgrown the Panama Canal. The term "Panamax" derived from the maximum size of ships that could pass through the canal. Post-Panamax vessels transport some 45 percent of the world's cargo.

It's been long in the making. Thank you for sharing this.

Keith

Larger cruise ships can soon get into the PC business too, though several have too much air draft to get under the Bridge of the Americas for a full transit.

Thanks for the update. We will be going in Nov, 2016. The last time we went thru was 2010. It will be exciting to see the changes.

Thanks for the update. We will be going in Nov, 2016. The last time we went thru was 2010. It will be exciting to see the changes.

As I understand it, ships that fit the existing (old) locks will still use them. The new locks used only by those ships that require them. Fees for the larger locks are considerable too. Of course, it is Panama and all is subject to change.

As I understand it, ships that fit the existing (old) locks will still use them. The new locks used only by those ships that require them. Fees for the larger locks are considerable too. Of course, it is Panama and all is subject to change.

Thanks, it will still be exciting to see it again.

Just as an update to this thread, a marine newsletter I get reports that the new part of the canal are delayed yet again. There is a safety problem concerning the tugs designed for the new locks not being able to control the "neo Panamax" ships as planned and also something about a lack of "safe haven" areas for tugs within the locks. There is supposed to be a full "safety review" undertaken so no telling when the new canal bits will be opened. This comes from a usually reliable professional maritime source.