Panama Canal Locks Undergo Dry Chamber Overhaul

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) recently undertook scheduled maintenance work in four of the lock gates of the west chamber in the Gatún Locks. The work, which began on Tuesday, August 15, was completed Sunday, August 20th, and required draining the locks chamber. The lock gates and valves also underwent a system of corrosion protection. Canal customers are informed of maintenance work up to a year in advance to minimize delays and the impact to vessel transit service. Each set of locks is named after the city in which it was constructed: Gatún (on the Atlantic side), Pedro Miguel and Miraflores (on the Pacific). The lock chambers measure 33.53 meters wide by 304.8 meters long.