Posted on November 26, 2015
PSA Panama International Terminal has awarded two contracts for a total of US$200 million for the dredging alongside the future berths to a depth of 16.3 million to Belgium-based Jan de Nul.
The construction of 800 metres of new quay wall for the terminal that is located on the western bank of the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, was awarded to a Belgium-French joint venture, between Jan de Nul and Sapiem, reported Seatrade Maritime News.
The awarding of the contracts is part of a $400 million expansion project that will raise the terminal’s annual container throughput capacity to two million TEU and extend the total berth length to 1,140 metres, up from the current 340 metres.
According to PSA head of Latin America Enno Koll, it will take 17 months to complete the works and operations are scheduled to begin in March 2017. He said eight new quay cranes with 24-row outreach will also be ordered for PSA Panama.
“Everything is moving well. This new capacity will be ready to handle the expected increase in transshipment demand in the coming years. With our expansion, capacity on the Pacific side of Panama will be seven million TEU,” Mr Koll was quoted as saying.
