Pacific Locks Access Channel News

On the countdown to its centennial in 2014, the Panama Canal celebrates 14 years under Panamanian administration, characterized by its enhanced service to world maritime trade. "The Panama Canal has strengthened its role in international trade, while contributing to the country’s development,” said Panama Canal Administrator Jorge L. Quijano. The Panamanian management model has enabled the efficient and safe operation of the Canal, allowing it to offer a world-class service. Under Panamanian administration…

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.

Six companies submitted bids June 1 to dredge an area of the Panama Canal’s manmade body of water, Gatun Lake. The ACP will now analyze the technical and financial submissions and award the contract to the firm with the lowest-priced bid that meets the requirements stated in the request for proposal. The primary element within the scope of work for this contract is to widen and deepen the existing navigational channel by dredging approximately 4.6 million cubic meters in the northern most reaches of the Lake. This contract is one component within the ACP’s Fresh Water Dredging and Excavation Project for the Canal Expansion, which includes the dredging and/or excavation of about 30 million cubic meters in Gatun Lake and the Gaillard Cut (the narrowest stretch of the Panama Canal).

On September 3, 2007, Panamanian President Martín Torrijos, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and several former and current heads of state witnessed and celebrated the historic groundbreaking of the Canal Expansion Program. Expansion, which will build a new lane of traffic along the waterway through the construction of a new set of locks, will double capacity and allow more traffic and longer, wider ships. In addition, it will significantly augment the Canal’s revenue stream while maintaining the viability of the route. That September morning, joined by more than 30,000 Panamanians, the ACP kicked off its first major construction project of expansion – the dry excavation of Paraiso Hill.

As part of the Panama Canal Authority’s (ACP) efforts to protect wildlife as the Expansion Program moves forward, more than 263 animals have been rescued, examined and relocated to protected areas near the Canal. During the execution of the first two dry excavation contracts for the Pacific locks access channel, the ACP has surveyed more than 880 acres for endangered wildlife and recovered several species of mammals and reptiles. This week, Canal personnel rescued a female crocodile and released it in where a population of the same species is already established.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) released its request for proposal (RFP) Tuesday, September 18, for the second dry excavation project under expansion. This contract is for the second of five excavation projects to create the new Pacific locks access channel. This channel will link the new Pacific locks with the existing Gaillard Cut (the narrowest stretch in the Panama Canal). The excavation involves the removal of 7.5 million cubic meters in a stretch of approximately 2.4 kilometers, which will serve as the entrance of the new Pacific access channel. "Three weeks ago, the world watched as we broke ground on expansion with the beginning of the first dry excavation.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP) in a ceremony and groundbreaking to celebrate the beginning of the first-ever expansion of the nearly 100-year-old waterway. double capacity and allow more traffic and longer, wider ships. Today’s event inaugurates the first construction project of expansion: a dry excavation project on Paraiso Hill that begins the construction of the new Pacific Locks access channel. The new Pacific Locks access channel will ultimately connect the Gaillard Cut to the new Pacific Locks. In a national referendum October 22, 2006, Panamanians voted to expand the Canal, a momentous step that will ultimately secure their future and that of world trade.

Ninety-three years after its grand opening in 1914, the Panama Canal will mark its anniversary tomorrow by celebrating the successful start of its historic Expansion Program. Nearly a year after Panamanians approved a national referendum to expand the waterway, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has set the project in motion. It awarded the first expansion-related construction contract, the first of five dry excavation projects that will create the new Pacific Locks access channel. This new channel will link a new, third set of locks on the Pacific end of the Canal with the existing Gaillard Cut (the narrowest stretch in the Panama Canal).

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) officially began reviewing bids for the first construction project under the Canal's expansion program on last Friday, July 6. Submissions to perform the dry excavation of the new Pacific Locks access channel will be thoroughly reviewed and a winner will be determined in the coming weeks. In a ceremony, the ACP opened each bid submission. After reviewing them, the proposal that meets all of the project's criteria and needs, with the best price, will be selected. There were 10 submissions. On May 7, the ACP released its tender (request for proposal submission) for the first of five dry excavation projects…

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) took one step closer to breaking ground for the expansion of the Panama Canal Tuesday, when it officially awarded the first expansion construction project contract to Constructora Urbana S.A. (CUSA). The selection process began May 7, when the ACP released its request for proposals to begin the first of five dry excavation projects to create the new Pacific Locks access channel. This new channel will link a new, third set of locks on the Pacific end of the Canal with the existing Gaillard Cut (the narrowest stretch in the Panama Canal). This project represents approximately 16 percent of the total excavation for the new Pacific Locks access channel.

ACP announced that, after a thorough review, the Panamanian National Environmental Authority (ANAM) has approved the environmental impact study (EIS) for the first dry excavation contract for the new Pacific Locks access channel - the first construction project under expansion. With this approval, the ACP has laid the groundwork for the preliminary stages of the dry excavation. On May 6, 2007, the ACP released its tender (request for proposal submission) for the first dry excavation contract for the new Pacific Locks access channel - the subject of the environmental impact study and the first of five dry excavation projects that will link the new Post-Panamax Locks on the Pacific end of the Canal with the existing Gaillard Cut. Bids are due on July 6, 2007.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has modified the tender for the dry excavation of the new Pacific Locks access channel and extended the bid submission date to July 6, 2007. On May 7, the ACP released its tender (request for proposal submission) for the dry excavation of the new Pacific Locks access channel - the first of five dry excavation projects that will link the new Post-Panamax Locks on the Pacific end of the Canal with the existing Gaillard Cut (the narrowest stretch in the Panama Canal). This project is the first construction-related expansion tender and represents approximately 16 percent of the total excavation for the new Pacific Locks access channel. The ACP expects to award the contract in July or August of 2007.

access channel on the Pacific end of the Canal. substantially larger vessels. approximately 16 percent of the total excavation for the new Pacific Locks Access Channel. and ditches. “We are making history with the release of the first construction project tender. Jorge L. Quijano. Information about this tender (No. www.pancanal.com. submissions. The ACP expects to award the contract in July or August 2007.