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A series of leaks has been discovered in the massive new locks installed in the Panama Canal, creating a stir on social media. Dramatic video posted on YouTube (see below) shows water pouring through one of the locks, raising concerns that the Canal expansion may not meet its planned opening next April.

But an official with the Panama Canal Authority told an industry group this week that the leaks won’t affect the opening.

“I saw the cracks and got scared too,” Javier Carrillo, international trade specialist for the Panama Canal Authority, told the Western Dredging Association. “But we’re actually glad it happened now, because we’re in the testing phase — we’re testing each and every component.”

The schedule included time to handle these types of issues, Carrillo said, according to coverage in the Journal of Commerce.

The Panama Canal Authority and the consortium building the Canal expansion have been quick to dampen concerns about the leaks, according to media reports.

“[We aim] for the best quality. We won’t accept low-quality repairs. This is a new lockhead, and we expect it to work properly. We aim for a lifespan of 100 years,” Panama Canal representative Jorge Luis Quijano told a TV reporter.

In a statement, the consortium, the United Groups for the Canal, confirmed the authenticity of the pictures and video, but said the issues are being address. The pictures show one of the locks on the Canal’s Pacific side, the company said.

“Technical personnel are handling this issue. The goal of the testing phase is precisely to detect any problem that requires adjustment or reinforcement,” the company said.

News that the Canal expansion won’t be delayed will certainly be welcomed by the Panama City business community. The Canal expansion is a huge driver for the economy—and the property industry—in addition to being one of the engineering marvels of the world.

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