The Panama Canal Expansion is the largest project at the Canal since its original construction. The project will create a new lane of traffic along the Canal through the construction of a new set of locks, doubling the waterway's capacity. The existing locks allow the passage of vessels that can carry up to 5,000 TEUs. After the expansion the Post-Panamax vessels will be able to transit through the Canal, with up to 13,000 TEUs. The Expansion will double the Canal's capacity, having a direct impact on economies of scale and international maritime trade.
The Program consists of several components:
- New Locks (Third Set of Locks)
- Pacific Access Channel
- Improvement of Navigational Channels (Dredging)
- Improvements to Water Supply
The Panama Canal expansion is based on six years of research, which included more than 100 studies on the economic feasibility, market demand, environmental impact and other technical engineering aspects. Works on the Panama Canal Expansion began on September 2007 at a total cost of US$5.2 billion.
The gates of the Cocoli gates are the largest in this locks complex, and located at the lowest level, are required to open and close withing a span of 4 to 5 minutes to meet the stablished standards.
Is the first biggest project in the human history.
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