CANAL EXPANSION II

Questions of the Canla expansion

1. How does he benefits to the Republic of Panama the construction of the project of extension of the Canal?

Some of the benefits that the project of extension brings to Panama are:

·         Major squares of work for the Panamanians.

·         Increase of the economy of the country.

·         Major opportunity inside the maritime and port market.

2. Why there arose the need to realize the extension to the Canal of Panama?

The principal need by which this project is realized is to improve the capacity and the service to face the increasing demand of the maritime international traffic.

And hereby the income is increased to the economy of the country.

3. Which are the awaited benefits once there begins the use of the new game of sluices?

Once initiated the functioning of the new game of sluices:

·         There will be allowed the step of ships of major size as the post-panamax.

·          Increase of the traffic for the Channel.

·          Minor time of duration in the traffic of a ship.

·          Major economic income.

 



PANAMA CANAL HISTORY

History

The idea of the canal was considered in 1533 for the Spanish in Camino de Cruces overland route. However, the project was abandoned, as it would have cost an enormous amount of money for the time.

In 1879 studies carried out by the firm owned by Ferdinand de Lesseps who built the Suez Canal. The first option for the construction of the Canal was Nicaragua, but finally in 1882 work began in Panama and was created The Companies Universal del Canal Interoceanico.

Seven years later, due to lack of cash, epidemics and physical difficulties, amongst other reasons, the Company went bankrupt and the work stopped.

The project was taken up again in 1900 when North Americans bought the rights to build the Canal.

The Panamanian People helped by the US, proclaimed Panama´s independence from Colombia in 1903. In exchange for this aid, the United States was to build the Canal and enjoy perpetual rights to use, operate and control it.

It took ten years to complete construction of the Canal and them building one of the largest locks that existed at that time, al Gatún. Finally, on 15 August 1914, the steamship Ancon was the first ship to sail through the Canal.

After the elections in 1968, president Omar Torrijos took it upon himself to realize national aspiration, achieving a historic agreement for the return of the Canal, which entered into effect on 31 December 1999. The Panama Canal Authority has administrated this vital route ever since. More recently, in October 2006, a popular referendum approved plans to expand the Canal to increase sea traffic and accommodate larger ships, since the size of the locks at present restricts their use by the ships up to maximum of 965 feet long and 105 feet wide.





THIRD SET OF LOCKS

General Information on the New Locks



The third game understands two games of locks: The Pacific and Atlantic. The Construction of the news locks absorbs 62 % of the total budget. Total Budget: 5250 millions. $3,400 million of dollars are used exclusively for the construction of the locks. Located to the southwest of Miraflores locks; they work with: gravity and water.

Every locks it has 3 levels, the water divides in 5 portions. Current locks use entity 57 to 59 million gallons of water; New sluice they are 35 % more big and use 7 % less it waters down.

The construction of the new locks initiate in September 3, 2007. the construction ends in 2014.

CANAL EXPANSION

Program Description

The program consists in the construction of two new sets of locks - one on the Pacific and one on the Atlantic side of the Canal. Each lock will have three chambers and each chamber will have three water reutilization basins.

The program also entails the widening and deepening of existing navigational channels in Gatun Lake and the deepening of Culebra Cut.

In order to open a new 6.1 km-long access channel to connect the Pacific locks and the Culebra Cut, four dry excavation projects will be executed.

Relevant Dates
Referendum:	22-October-06
Funds Availability:	December-06
Estimated Termination Date:	2014

   

 

 Expansion Program

Components

Post-Panamax Locks

Construction of the new Post-Panamax locks on the Pacific and Atlantic sides. The new locks complexes will have three chambers each with water-saving basins, a lateral filling and emptying system and rolling gates.

Pacific Access Channel

Excavation of the new Pacific Post-Panamax locks north Access channel. The project requires dry excavation of approximately 50 million cubic meters of material along 6.1 kilometers. Excuted in four different phases.

Improvements to Navigational Channels

Both entrances to the Canal (Atlantic and Pacific) are being dredged, as well as Culebra Cut and Gatun Lake.

Improvements to Water Supply

The project calls for the increase of Gatun Lake's maxium operating level by 45 centimeters to improve Canal water supply and draft dependability.

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For more Information: http://www.pancanal.com/eng/expansion/rpts/components/2011.pdf

PANAMA THE WORLD'S BRIDGE

Panama is divided in two by the famous canal, which communicates the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, making it truly the world´s bridge.

The history of the construction of the Panama Canal is the saga of human ingenuity and courage: years of sacrifice, crushing defeat, and final victory.