Jorge Luis Quijano News

Brazilian farmers in top soy state Mato Grosso signed a memorandum of understanding with the Panama Canal Authority to evaluate ways to cut transportation costs and boost Brazilian grain volumes using the waterway, the authority's chief administrator said. The canal's administration is looking to increase its participation in rising Brazilian grain exports, since a large part of grain trade expansion in Brazil is via new terminals in the northern part of the country, which are closer to the canal.

Panama Canal announced the transit of its 3,000th Neopanamax vessel, exceeding initial traffic expectations by this date and reaffirming the value and impact its route has had on global maritime trade, said a press release on Friday (March 02). The Panamanian flagged containership MSC Caterina completed the milestone transit this morning traveling northbound from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. The vessel measures 300 meters in length and 48 meters in beam, with a total TEU allowance (TTA) of 9,000 containers. It was one of nine Neopanamax vessels welcomed at the Panama Canal on Friday. "Today's milestone, achieved in less than two years of operation…

Port Everglades and the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) have renewed their long-standing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote trade opportunities for another five years. This renewal will extend their strategic alliance to 2021. The MOU solidifies both entities' dedication to growth and best customer practices. The ACP and Port Everglades first signed an MOU in August 2009. Areas of cooperation between the ACP and Port Everglades include joint advertising programs, data interchange, and competitive market analyses of the shipping industry. This alliance will also continue to promote the route to the West Coast of South America as well as the  "All-Water Route," the route from Asia to the U.S. East Coast via the Panama Canal.

Recent expansion of the Panama Canal should lower shipping costs, say market observers. Shipping geeks will delight at this engineering marvel that revolutionized global maritime trade. As a major Latin American hub of finance, commerce and transportation, the Panamanian capital is a growing destination for business travellers, says NZ Herald. For anyone looking to duck out of a convention centre for a few hours, fill a gap between meetings or even if you've just got a long layover at the airport, a visit to Panama City's No.1 attraction and its newly expanded locks makes the perfect side excursion. “This new transit route is the tip of the iceberg in making Panama once again the logistic center of the Americas,” the Guardian quoted Jorge Luis Quijano, canal administrator, as saying.

The expansion of the Panama Canal will take traffic through the inter-oceanic passage to a new level, which already handles around 6 percent of global trade transportation, its administrator said on Saturday. With the expansion of the canal's width and depth, the volume of traffic will double, as Panamax-class vessels will now be able to pass through, carrying up to 14,000 cargo containers. Jorge Luis Quijano, administrator of the Panama Canal, said at a press conference that this expansion, which will be inaugurated on Sunday, will open up new opportunities in sectors such as logistics and ship repairs. The main contractor for the expansion was the consortium Grupo Unidos por el Canal.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) was informed by its contractor Grupo Unidos por el Canal, S.A. (GUPC) on Wednesday, June 1 that the Third Set of Locks have officially passed all performance tests and are now functionally completed to allow a safe, efficient and reliable operation of the new locks in accordance with the provisions of the contract. The ACP said it will conduct a detailed review of the submitted report in order to proceed with appropriate action and respond to the contractor, symbolizing a milestone toward the inauguration of the new lane on June 26.

National Assembly will question two national leaders, among them the Panama Canal Administrator. The plenary of the National Assembly has approved a proposal to call Panama Canal Administrator Jorge Luis Quijano before the body to answer questions about the waterway's finances and the progress of the expansion. The proposal was presented by a group of deputies from different parties, including Leandro Avila and Raúl Pineda of the PRD, CD Deputy Dalia Bernal and Miguel Salas of the Panameñista party.

ACP touts new Toll Structure as reflecting value of route and better customer service. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced a proposal for a new toll structure, following more than a year of informal consultations with representatives from various industry segments. The ACP Board of Directors approved the proposal on December 24, 2014. Starting January 5, 2015, the ACP is inviting formal comments on the proposal. A public hearing will take place on February 27, written comments must be received by the deadline of February 9, 2015 at 4:15 p.m., local time. Those interested in delivering remarks at the public hearing have until February 9 to communicate their interest to participate in writing.

The Panama Canal Board of Directors this week formally approved the development and construction of a transshipment port in Panama’s Corozal region. Upon completion, the port will have the capacity to handle more than five million TEUs within a 120-hectare area at the Canal’s entrance to the Pacific. The project is now awaiting the final step for approval from Panama’s National Assembly. The project is another example of the Canal’s continual commitment to develop new products, enhancing customer service and furthering Panama’s position as the logistics and maritime hub of the Americas. The two-phased port project will include the construction of a 2,081-linear-meter-dock, a container yard, offices and warehouse facilities within a 120-hectare area owned by the Panama Canal.

The Panama Canal board of directors this week formally approved the development and construction of a transshipment port in Panama’s Corozal region. Upon completion, the port will have the capacity to handle more than five million TEUs within a 120-hectare area at the canal’s entrance to the Pacific. The project is now awaiting the final step for approval from Panama’s National Assembly. The project is another example of the canal’s continual commitment to develop new products, enhancing customer service and furthering Panama’s position as the logistics and maritime hub of the Americas.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) received a delegation from Port Everglades led by Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief and Deputy Port Director Glenn Wiltshire. During the meeting, the Panama Canal Administrator provided an update on the Expansion Program and its impact on U.S. East Coast ports. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and Port Everglades renewed their strategic alliance in 2011 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). First signed in August 2009, the MOU solidifies both entities' dedication to growth and best customer practices.

After the arrival of the second set of rolling gates, the Panama Canal Expansion keeps moving forward reaching a new milestone at the Pacific side with the pouring of more than two million cubic meters of concrete, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) reported. "This is another milestone that shows the progress of various components of the Canal Expansion Project," said the Administrator of the ACP, Jorge Luis Quijano. The pouring mark of more than 2 million meters of concrete was reached this month in one of the monoliths that is on the west wall of the middle lock chamber.

In another step forward for the Panama Canal Expansion Program, the second shipment of four rolling gates for the Third Set of Locks arrived today from port of Trieste, Italy to the waterway's Atlantic side on board the semi-submersible heavy lift vessel Sun Rise. "This is another milestone as it completes half of the 16 gates that will be used in the new locks", said the administrator of the Panama Canal Authority, Jorge Luis Quijano. Following a nearly one-month long journey, the ship completed its second trip that began in mid-May in the Port of Trieste, crossing the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Differing from the first shipment, these gates have two different dimensions, according to their final position in the lock chambers.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) informs that the second shipment of four rolling gates for the Third Set of Locks to the waterway's Atlantic side has arrived from the Port of Trieste, Italy, on board the semi-submersible vessel 'STX Sun Rise'. “This is another milestone as it completes half of the 16 gates that will be used in the new locks”, said the administrator of the Panama Canal Authority, Jorge Luis Quijano. Differing from the first shipment, these gates have two different dimensions, according to their final position in the lock chambers. The taller ones or “Type C” were fabricated for lock head number 3 in the middle chamber of the Pacific locks.

Experts from the United States, Latin America and Europe will participate in the second Panama Canal International Maintenance Congress to be held on August 27 – 29, 2014, within the framework of the waterway’s centennial. The three-day event will have as main theme "Investing in Maintenance: Key to Competitiveness and Sustainability." Experts in the fields of maintenance and engineering will participate in the congress, sharing their knowledge and experiences in training for a culture of prevention. The presentations will focus on three areas: reliability and assets condition monitoring, maintenance of civil infrastructure and maintenance management. "This year, the congress has a special significance since it will be held during our centennial.

Panama City, Panama, May 14, 2013 – Maersk Line CEO Søren Skou visited the Panama Expansion construction site accompanied by Panama Canal Administrator Jorge L. Quijano during his recent trip to Panama. Skou and other Maersk Line executives had the opportunity to see the construction site of the new locks in the Atlantic side, which will allow the transit of Post-Panamax vessels through the Panama Canal. During the visit, Panama Canal Administrator Jorge Luis Quijano updated the delegation on the progress of the expansion program.

President of Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Luis Alberto Moreno, visits the construction site of the new locks in Colon province. The new locks, situated on the Atlantic side, were visited by Moreno, accompanied by IDB delegates, who are in Panama to participate in the Fifty-Fourth Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors which takes place from March 14 to 17, 2013. During the visit, Panama Canal Administrator Jorge Luis Quijano presented an update on the progress of the Expansion Program.

The Panama Canal is celebrating 13 years under Panamanian administration. During this period, the Canal has strengthened its role in international commerce as a result of investment in the modernization of its infrastructure, its expansion and an alliance with its natural surroundings. “The Panama Canal reaffirms its relevance in international commerce more than ever as a result of the decisions and actions that Panamanians have taken with regard to its management,” said Panama Canal Administrator Jorge Luis Quijano.

Panama Canal Authority Board of Directors appoints new Canal Administrator. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Board of Directors announced today the appointment of engineer Jorge Luis Quijano as the new Panama Canal Administrator. Mr. Quijano will succeed Alberto Alemán Zubieta, who has been at the helm of the Canal for the past 16 years and whose term will end on September 3, 2012. “We are proud to announce the appointment of Jorge Quijano as the new Canal Administrator. The Board of Directors…

PCA is meeting with clients, government officials, and maritime authorities from China, Japan, and South Korea to reaffirm its relationship with customers and explain the impact of the Panama Canal expansion program in Asia. China (second), Japan (fourth), and South Korea (fifth) are among the top five users of the Panama Canal. In Shanghai, the representation of the Panama Canal had contact with directors of China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL), and while in Beijing they met Captain Wei Jiafu, President of COSCO Group Company and other executives of the firm. "These direct contacts allow us to know first-hand what our customers and users of the Panama Canal think, with the goal of always providing quality service to uphold the competitiveness of the Panama route," added Alemán Zubieta.

The Panama Canal set a mark in its history as it reached a new tonnage record of 333.7 million Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS) during fiscal year 2012 which concluded on September 30. This achievement highlights the value of Panama and its significance as a link in the chain of global trade. "This milestone attests to the reliable and continuous service offered by the Canal, which is supported by a workforce of 10,000 men and women. The Panama Canal works tirelessly to provide its customers with first-rate service…