Are 16 moles of over 3,000 tons, 58 meters long, 30 high and 10 wide. The gates to the consortium responsible for the construction of the Panama Canal, led by Spanish construction firm Sacyr, you need to install to enable the expansion of the seaway are key to the project. To have been delivered made ​​four. So many should have been delivered in late 2013, but problems with the carrier and are prevented in Italy, where the company that manufactures custom- consortium. Now, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) requests new guarantees on delivery.
The latest proposal of channel managers - sent week to try to end the dispute by billionaires overruns that keeps with the consortium Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC) - sets specific dates for delivery of the gates, whose construction was commissioned by the Italian company GUPC Cimolai. The first four parts arrived in Panama last summer, after a month long trip in a semi-submersible vessel. But the ACP is yet to receive four additional gates because of problems with the company that owns the vessel used for transportation. In its day, the consortium reported that it was searching for another vessel to complete the transfer. Keep in mind that there are not many boats in the world capable of these custom caracerÃ_sticas. The other eight gates are still in process.
The construction of these gates much of the budget of the contract awarded in 2009 to Grupo Unidos por el Canal takes. The total amounts to $ 3,200 million (2,400 million euros) and of gates, valves and electromechanical system absorbs 1.100 million. Each gate weighs 3,500 tonnes, equivalent to 2,000 vehicles together, five times more than today, hovering around 700 tons. Of the 16 gates that are made, eight are located on the Atlantic side and as many in the Pacific. Larger -33 meters high and nearly 4,300 tons - will be placed on the side of the Pacific, for the most seismic risk and highest tides.
Delivery dates of these gates is one of the negotiating points that have to resolve the parties to resume the expansion works. The work carried paralyzed since last week after the ACP and the consortium abandoned formal negotiating table, although the contacts to reach a settlement have continued to occur in the last days. The reason for the dispute revolves around additional costs of $ 1,600 million for the consortium wants the ACP co-finance.
Despite the liquidity problems of the consortium, the administrator of the ACP, Jorge Quijano, said that there were no problems with the Italian company that the subcontractor has continued to work without interruption.
The canal expansion project began in 2007 and involves an investment of 5,250 million. The proposed construction of the third set of locks, by GUPC, is that it will absorb most of the budget. The aim is to double the capacity of 300 to 600 tons a year, called post-Panamax ships, which allow transfer of 12,000 containers, rather than the current limit of 4,000.
Tags: 16, broadening, Channel, gates, key