The maintenance work aims to extend its life by a century.
* From their vantage point in cranes overlooking the Panama Canal, operators scrutinise the century-old walls of its locks.
* In the middle of a gigantic ditch drained of water, workers scramble to complete maintenance work in one of the chambers, or lanes of the Pedro Miguel lock, not far from the Pacific Ocean.
How do the locks work?
The canal uses rainwater to move ships through the locks which work like elevators to raise vessels by up to 26 metres above sea level as they transit stress as they transit across the isthmus's continental mountain range.
The Petro Miguel locks have two chambers - each a part of lane through which some 30 ships pass daily.
Last round of maintenance
The last round of maintenance for the chamber - which is 1,000 feet long and 110 feet wide - came in 2015. The canal has five sets of locks , with 18 chambers.
Accessing electrical components
The intention is to dry the chamber and have access to all electrical components and equipment in order to recondition them and extend their operational life.
Monitoring the situation
During this time, more than 400 people constantly monitor valves, the 20-metre walls and the huge pipes through which water is is pumped to raise and lower ships.
Canal traffic continues
Despite the ongoing maintenance, canal traffic continues. With passage through the west chamber halted, the Uog Phoenix oil tanker passes through the east chamber, sounding its siren as it heads towards the Caribbean.
Work in the west chamber finished on 16 May and was budgeted for $2.5 million.
The importance of Panama Canal
About 6%of all global maritime commerce passes through the Panama Canal, with the US, China and Japan being the leading users.
* The 80 Km canal was inaugurated by the US in 1914. Since then more than a million vessels have transited through; headed from the Pacific to the Atlantic and vice versa.
My take
The maintenance work is a gargantuan work.
Tailpiece.
Got up a trifle after 6, in the morning, the chores and was ready by a half past 10.
The well in the courtyard of The Quarterdeck was washed down today by Ramesh and his team.
A quiet lunch.
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