The second shipment of lock gates for the expanded canal onboard the vessel Sun Rise is expected to arrive in Panama in mid-June, subject to weather conditions.

“This is another important milestone towards the completion of a project that will have an important impact on the international maritime community,” said Panama Canal Administrator Jorge Luis Quijano.

The expansion of the canal is currently 74% complete but has been hit by multiple delays including a national strike by construction workers in Panama and work stoppage by contractor consortium Grupo Unidos Por el Canal (GUPC) in a cost overruns dispute.

The expansion works due to be completed at the end of December 2015.