Bulker to conduct trial runs at Panama Canal’s new locks early June
With the ceremonial opening of the Panama Canal expansion just over six weeks away it has been announced that a baby cape size dry bulk carrier will start trial runs at the new Atlantic side lock in early June.
The much-delayed $5.3bn expansion project has involved the construction of third locks at both ends of the inter-oceanic waterway. These will accommodate Neopanamax vessels, with three times the capacity of the current largest vessels that can use the Canal.
The bulk carrier Baroque should arrive in the Canal area in the first week of June, giving it almost three weeks to test the Agua Clara locks that face the Atlantic Ocean. The ceremonial opening is set for Sunday June 26 with the new locks open for business the next day.