Name and Location
Panama Canal expansion project.

Client
The government of Panama, represented by Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (ACP).

Project Description
The project entails the expansion of the Panama Canal by adding a third set of locks, one at each end of the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the canal.

Each lock facility will feature three consecutive chambers, with lateral water-saving basins, a lateral filling and emptying system, as well as rolling gates.

The Atlantic locks complex will be located east of the existing Gatún locks complex, and the Pacific locks complex will be located south-west of the existing Miraflores locks. The location of both complexes will take up an extensive section of the excavations performed by the US government for the third set of locks project, which started in 1939.

The new locks will each be 427 m long, 55 m wide and 18.3 m deep, with a beam of 49 m and a draught of 15.2 m, suitable for ships of up to 366 m in length.

The existing locks are each 304.8 m long, 55 m wide and 18.3 m deep, with a beam of 32.3 m and a draught of 12.4 m, which can accommodate ships of up to 294.1 m in length.

The excavation of new navigational channels will allow for access between the new locks and the existing channels, as well as the deepening and widening of the existing channels. Widening the existing channels to 218 m will allow for the navigation of post-Panamax vessels through these channels in one direction at a time.

The Gaillard Cut and Gatún Lake navigation channels will be deepened by 1.2 m to a precise level datum (PLD) of 9.2 m, raising the maximum operational level of Gatún Lake by 0.45 m, from its existing 26.7 m PLD to 27.1 m PLD. This project component will increase Gatún Lake’s functional water-reserve capacity.

The deepening of Culebra Cut and Gatún Lake, as well as increasing their maximum operating level, will improve the canal’s water supply and draft dependability.

These measures are intended to allow for the expanded canal to operate without the construction of new reservoirs.

Value
The project is estimated at more than $5.25-billion.

Duration
Commercial transits are expected to begin in mid-2015.

Latest Developments
The canal expansion programme has begun filling the Cocolis’ locks, on the Pacific side, following a similar and successful endeavor on the Atlantic side earlier this month. This important step marks the start of a deliberate and methodical phase of compliance and operational testing for the project.

The intricate filling process will use specifically designed powerful electric and diesel pumps. The electric pumps are each expected to provide an estimated 113 562.35 ℓ a minute, while another 13 diesel pumps will each 26 497.88 ℓ a minute, filling the lower chamber at a rate of about 23 cm/h.

The filling and subsequent testing of the new Pacific locks is expected to take about 90 days to complete.

Among their features, each lock complex includes three chambers, nine water-saving basins with a filling and emptying side system and rolling gates.

As of the end of May, the Panama Canal expansion was 89.8% complete.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Japan Bank for International Cooperation, European Investment Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Andean Development Corporation and the International Finance Corporation (loan finance); Grupo Unidos por el Canal joint venture, comprising Jan de Nul, Sacyr Vallehermoso, Impregilo and Constructora Urbana (Cusa) (design and construction of the new third set of locks); Peri (planning and supply of formwork and scaffolding systems); Cusa (excavation of the Pacific access channel Phase 1); Cilsa Panama–Minera María consortium (excavation of the Pacific access channel Phase 2); Constructora Meco (excavation of the Pacific access channel Phase 3); a consortium comprising Constructora ICA, Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas and Constructora Meco (excavation of the Pacific access channel Phase 4); Dredging International (dredging of the Pacific entrance navigational channel, the Gatún Lake north access channel and the Atlantic entrance); ACP (dredging for the deepening and widening of Gatún Lake and deepening of Culebra Cut); Jan de Nul (dredging of the new Pacific access channel north approach); Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (conduit valves).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
ACP corporate communications, tel +507 272 7602.