The Panama Canal undertook scheduled maintenance work in one of the chambers of the Pedro Miguel Locks, as part of its ongoing asset and infrastructure maintenance program.
The work, referred to as a “dry chamber” because it required draining the lock’s chamber, began on Tuesday, May 27, and was completed on Saturday, May 31. According to the schedule, while the west lane was under reconditioning, the east lane remained operational, ensuring uninterrupted vessel traffic.
The maintenance was both preventive and corrective in nature. It included the replacement of apex seals and the lower omega-type seal, repairs to hinges due to wear on the wall and gate plates (concave and convex), inspection of the ball joint, and adjustments to the gate system’s upper anchorage, known as the “yoke.”
This extensive maintenance effort mobilized 300 team members working in two shifts: 150 during the day and 150 at night. Planning for the project took six months, underscoring the precision required to successfully complete the work within just five days.
“This is a Canal with more than 110 years of history, and as part of our commitment to safe and efficient operations, we carried out essential preventive maintenance on the Panamax locks,” said Boris Moreno, Vice President for Panama Canal Operations. “This work took on even greater significance as we commemorated the Canal’s 25th anniversary under Panamanian administration, reflecting our continued responsibility to the country and global trade.”
Miguel Lorenzo, Vice President for Infrastructure and Engineering, emphasized that “maintenance is part of our culture and a pillar of our competitiveness. For this reason, the Canal invests more than B/. 500 million annually in the maintenance of its infrastructure assets, equipment, fleets, and facilities.”
The Canal’s comprehensive maintenance program also includes regular interventions in the Neopanamax locks, the dams and spillways of Gatun, Madden, and Miraflores, transmission and power generation systems, civil infrastructure such as the Atlantic Bridge, and floating, land-based, and navigation channel equipment.
Through these actions and a robust investment in maintenance, the Panama Canal guarantees operational continuity, service excellence, and the long-term sustainability of its operations.
