April 8, 2016.

And now for the reason that I have been traveling to Panama since 2004, "El Canal" as they call it here in Panama. The citizens of Panama voted overwhelmingly to expand the Panama Canal back in 2006. Since then workers have been toiling away in the Panama heat readying "El Canal" for it's debut which was just announced and will be Sunday June 26th, 2016.

Fire safety pump at Cocoli. April 7, 2016.

Now, with the finish line in sight work continues at a feverish pace. There are four fire safety stations on each of The Expansion's new locks. Those new locks will be able to accomodate Neo-Panamax size ships which can hold up to 14,000 TEU.

Having just spent another day at The Expansion on the Pacific side the lock chambers are being tested and are filling with water, although not to capacity just yet. I heard that the ACP is expecting 70 foreign presidents for the inauguration of the expansion and as many as 60,000 people. It will be a historic day for Panama. Stay tuned....