Expanding the Panama Canal

Hola BRodda. I´ve been working for the Canal my last 28 years and can tell you this:

Initial Third Lock Project was under construction by WWII, but mainly due to the war effort works were halted. Many improvement have been made since those days specially under Panama´s administration.

At this time We are going to build a New Third Lock Project with one set of locks at each ocean entrance. The locks will consist of three consecutive locks with sliding gates and a set of three parallel recicling pools, per lock, for water comsuption efficiency. Locks will be large enough for acomodating new postpanamax vessels.

In addition, the Corte Culebra (narrowest section of the canal) will be widened to acomodate the future maritime traffic and the Gatun Lake (canal water reservoir) level will be raised by 18 inches.

It is planned to be finished in seven years, starting 2007, and should be paid off by 2025. you may access www.pancanal.com where you can see how the actual and future locks work and all the information you may need and even more.

Our goal is to build the ¨TERCER JUEGO DE ESCLUSAS¨ providing all the information on its construction, including its financial status, so the panamenian people can see how its canal is being build.

Thanks for you interest. Regards.

Luis

Which country will own the 3rd lock (who's putting up the cash)? Or is it a multinational effort?

Panama owns the canal. Any one can use the canal. If you have a kayac you may cross the canal paddling throuht it... yes , you have to pay a fee and wait for a transit wich will acomodate several small sailships or yatchts.

Construction will be financed by step increases on transit fees, International Maritime Community is aware of this and has supported the project.

I strongly recomend you to access the canal site, they have a very comprehensive data on this project. Essencially its design has a very simple aproach and you can keep track of its advance. Basic good engineering. Regards.

Luis

Mexico has two projects which compete. One is the Lazaro Cardenas container terminal which will put East coast locations easily accesible by rail service. Lazaro Cardenas has an incredibly good sheltered harbour.

And there is a further concept terminal at Punto Coronet which looks like it will go ahead and that will be a lot nearer the US border.

I just wonder how good is the analysis of all these projects, going ahead without integrating the possible moves of potential competition.

The Panama Canal Expansion project has been under study for many years.

U.S Goverment at the begining, U. S. and Japan, and recently the Panamenian Canal Administration have made different feasibility studies wich have included projections of merchant maritime routes, dry canals (container terminals and transportation infraestructure), Suez canal, Nicaragua canal and other scenarios.

We have come to the conclusion that the future expansion it is a good business. The Panama Canal has had a steady growth over the years and our administration has made the Canal a very profitable and sucessfull business.

Other competitors, with other alternatives at this time, will have to plan ahead very carefull due to the fact that we are already operating and efficient canal that is very competitive.

Even that, We think there are enough oportunities for everybody and a lot of room for improvement, and that the success of others, may benefit us. Regards.

Luis