Panama Canal Expansion Leaks

Leaks have appeared from concrete of one of the interior chambers of the new Cocoli Locks on the Pacific side of the waterway during testing. A concrete sample pulled from the Locks shows a piece of cement with many air holes.

 The main contractor for the canal, Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC) issued a statement acknowledging the leaks, but has not provided any further feedback.

In a statement, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) said that GUPC is obliged to ensure long-term performance on all aspects of the construction of the locks and to correct this issue. The ACP has also said that at this point, the cracks are not expected to impact the opening of the new locks for commercial operations in April 2016.

Click here to see the Panama Canal leaky lock cartoon.