Name and Location
Panama Canal expansion project.

Client
The government of Panama, represented by Autoridad del Canal de Panam· (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 chambers, nine water-saving basins, a lateral filling and emptying system and rolling gates.

The Atlantic locks complex will be located east of the existing Gatun locks complex, and the Pacific locks complex will be located south-west of the existing Miraflores locks, in Cocoli.

The location of the complexes will occupy 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, with a beam of 49 m and a draught of 15.2 m, suitable for ships of up to 366 m in length.

Each existing lock is 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 Gatun 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 Gatun Lake by 0.45 m, from its existing 26.7 m PLD to 27.1 m PLD.

This project component will increase Gat˙n Lake’s functional water-reserve capacity.

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

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

Latest Developments
The testing of the Atlantic-facing Agua Clara locks’ water-saving basins have been completed, following a rigorous and methodical testing process in February. This milestone brings the expansion programme another step closer to completion, with less than 4% of construction remaining.
 
To ensure that the quality established in the contract has been met, the water-saving basins are filled and emptied to confirm they are watertight and to properly assess the structure's dividing walls and lining.

The testing of the Pacific-facing Cocoli locks’ water-saving basins is nearly complete. The upper chamber’s basins are expected to be assessed this month. During the testing period, all of the new locks’ systems are also examined, including the gates, valves, electricity and controls.
 
The innovative water-saving basins reuse 60% of the water used for each lockage. For each of the three chambers in the Agua Clara and Cocoli locks, there are three water-savings basins, bringing the total to 18 basins for the third set of locks project. Each basin has a surface area equivalent to 25 Olympic-size pools and uses state-of-the art hydraulic technology.
 
During each uplockage, 40% of the water is transferred to the chamber from the water-saving basins through lateral culverts (or underground channels), while the remaining 60% fills the chamber by gravity.
 
During each downlockage, 60% of the water from the chamber returns to the water-saving basins, and the remaining water is transferred to the remaining chambers until it reached the sea.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Japan Bank for International Cooperation, the European Investment Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Andean Development Corporation and the International Finance Corporation (loan finance); the 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 Maria 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 Gat˙n Lake north access channel and the Atlantic entrance); ACP (dredging for the deepening and widening of Gat˙n 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.