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Juan Carlos Varela News

07 Dec 2018

Chinese Consortium Bags USD 1.4bln Panama Bridge Project

The government of Panama gave a US$1.4 billion contract to build a bridge over the Panama Canal to Panama Cuarto Puente, a Chinese consortium.Panama Cuarto Puente consortium or so-called Panama Fourth Bridge Consortium,  composed of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and its unit China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), will design and build a bridge over the Panama Canal.According to a report in Reuters, the 6.5-km (4-mile) bridge will have six car lanes and a two-way metro line. The Chinese companies initially won the contract in June but the award was postponed after rival bidders appealed the decision.Now that the consortium outbid companies from Spain…

01 Mar 2018

DP World, Panama to Strengthen Ties

Trade infrastructure development to diversify Panama’s economy and DP World’s international experience in over 40 countries were at the centre of discussions held in Dubai yesterday between the global trade enabler’s Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem and Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela. As part of his visit, Mr. Varela was taken on a tour of DP World’s flagship Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone, including Terminal 3, which is among the world’s most productive and technologically advanced, employing surveillance drones and remote-controlled quay cranes that are operated from the safety and comfort of a control room. A presentation was also delivered on the role that DP World plays in enabling customers to manage the complexities and cut costs in the global supply chain…

06 Oct 2017

Panama's World Maritime Day Parallel Event

The connections between ships, ports and people were once again the focus for an international audience, as Panama hosted the 2017 World Maritime Day Parallel Event. The event was formally opened by His Excellency Mr Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez, President of the Republic of Panama. During the keynote address, which focused on the World Maritime Day theme "Connecting ships, ports and people", IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim emphasized IMO's strong commitment to helping achieve the aims of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations. "Shipping and ports can play a significant role in helping to create conditions for increased prosperity and stability through promoting maritime trade.

24 Mar 2017

Eight Damen Interceptors for Panama

(Photo: Damen)

The National Air and Naval Service of Panama (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval - SENAN) has taken delivery of four Interceptor 1102 vessels from Damen Shipyards Group. The President of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, performed the christening ceremonies of all four vessels on February 6, 2017. Coinciding with the vessel handover, SENAN also signed a second contract with Damen for an additional batch of four Interceptors. Both contracts include a comprehensive after-sales package that consists of training, spare parts and maintenance.

27 Jun 2016

New Era of Global Trade with Expanded Panama Canal

The first commercial transit of a Neopanamax vessel through the Expanded Panama Canal (Photo: ACP)

The Expanded Panama Canal is now officially open for business. During the official inauguration ceremony, Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela and Panama Canal Administrator and CEO Jorge L. Quijano spoke to a crowd of more than 25,000 jubilant Panamanians, Canal employees, heads of state and dignitaries from around the world, Canal customers, shipping and trade executives, and nearly 1,000 journalists. This is the first expansion of the waterway since its original construction. “More than 100 years ago, the Panama Canal connected two oceans.

27 Jun 2016

Panama Canal Officially Opens $5.25Bln Expansion

A 984-foot Chinese container ship was greeted with fireworks and cheers from a crowd that had gathered, when it made an inaugural passage through the newly expanded Panama Canal on Sunday, formally launching the Central American nation's multibillion-dollar newly-enlarged Panama Canal. The country’s president was among the dignitaries present to celebrate the event. The colorful ceremony celebrating the culmination of this $5 billion project has featured dancing flowers, dragons and a marching band. "This is a great day, a day of national unity and a day for Panama," President Juan Carlos Varela said in a speech. The effort to expand the 102-year-old canal took nearly 10 years and the sweat from 40,000 workers to complete.

24 Jun 2016

Countdown Begins for Expanded Panama Canal opening

History will be made in Panama on Sunday, June 26, when the first-ever Expanded Panama Canal is inaugurated. The COSCO Shipping Panama will transit through the new locks on this significant day, with the world as its audience. The Panama Canal Expansion project is the largest construction project undertaken in the waterway since its opening in 1914. Considered and analyzed for a decade with more than 100 studies, construction on the first-ever expansion began in 2007 to provide the world (shippers, retailers, manufacturers, consumers) with greater shipping options, better maritime service, enhanced logistics and supply-chain reliability.

12 Nov 2014

Final Gates Shipment Arrives to Panama Canal

Photo: Panama Canal Authority

The final shipment of gates has arrived to the Panama Canal today for the new locks as part of the canal’s expansion project. The four gates arrived on board the Post-Panamax vessel Xia Zhi Yuan 6 owned by COSCO Ocean Shipping, after a 25-day voyage from the Port of Trieste in Italy. The four gates arrived to the temporary dock located in the Atlantic side. The final shipment included two gates to be used in the Atlantic and two in the Pacific. “Today is an historic day for the Panama and the Canal…

02 Jul 2010

Leaders Tour Canal Site

This week the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) welcomed dignitaries to the Atlantic expansion site in Colón, including:  Belize Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega; Colombia President Álvaro Uribe; Costa Rica Vice President Alfio Piva Mesén; Dominican Republic Vice President Rafael Albuquerque; Guatemala President Álvaro Colom; Honduras President Porfirio Lobo; Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Spain Vice President Manuel Chaves. The delegation, in Panama for the Central American Integration System (SICA) summit…

12 Aug 2009

Panama Canal Hosts Canadian Prime Minister

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) hosted Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper today, during his first official visit to the Republic of Panama. Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, Panamanian Vice President Juan Carlos Varela, ACP Board Chairman and Minister for Canal Affairs Romulo Roux, along with ACP Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta, greeted the Prime Minister and briefed him on the latest developments surrounding the waterway’s historic Expansion Program – which continues to progress on-time and on-budget, to-date.