News
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced that sill reinforcements in the new locks had been completed last week, bringing the Panama Canal Expansion one step closer to inauguration.
The filling of the Pacific-facing Cocoli Locks has already begun, and the first water-saving basin of the Agua Clara Locks' upper chamber has been filled to the required level in order to begin a rigorous and methodical testing process.
Once the basin was filled, testing was conducted on the basin's emptying and filling system to confirm it is watertight.
While ensuring that the quality established in the contract is met, contractor Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC) will proceed with filling the remaining intermediate and lower basins.
For each of the three chambers in the Agua Clara and Cocoli Locks, there are a total of three water-savings basins, bringing the total to 18 basins for the new locks. Each of the basins is massive, having a surface area equivalent to 25 Olympic-size pools. And each utilizes state-of-the art technology which allows the Canal to reuse 60 percent of the water used per lockage, saving 7 percent more than the existing locks do.
