The new Cocoli locks at the Panama Canal’s Pacific end were subjected to a trial transit on Monday as the canal approaches Sunday’s inauguration ceremony for its $5.3bn expansion project.
The transit was made by a crane ship the Oceanus and all went smoothly said spokespeople for the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).
When the new locks officially open for business next Monday they will be able to accommodate post-Panamax container ships, effectively tripling the average cargo capacity per vessel for the inter-oceanic waterway.
New Atlantic-facing Agua Clara locks were tested earlier this month.
The new Cocoli locks had been the focus of concern in the latter months of the huge construction project after cracks and leaks appeared last August.
Those problems were fixed with steel reinforcements by the multinational contractor Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC). The locks passed a water test in February.
