Friday, December 19, 2014

Panama Canal gate installation begins on Atlantic side

The installation of the gates for the new locks on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal began this week, according to the waterway’s website.

The steel gate will be located in lock head two in the new locks on the Atlantic side. The gates are moved using self-propelled motorized wheel transporters with more than 400 wheels each, according to the Panama Canal Authority.

"This is a very important milestone for the expansion program," said Panama Canal Administrator Jorge L. Quijano. "We see how the new locks are rapidly taking shape as we move towards the successful completion of the project."

The gate being installed is 10 meters wide, 30.19 in height and weighs 3,285 tons. In total, the new locks will have 16 rolling gates, eight in the Pacific and eight in the Atlantic.

The Panama Canal administration said the expansion is currently 84 percent complete.



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