Watch Now


Panama Canal work gets green light

Panama Canal work gets green light

The Panama Canal Authority said the Panamanian National Environmental Authority has approved the environmental impact study for the first dry excavation contract for the new Pacific Locks access channel.

   The excavation will be the first construction project for the expansion project, which will add a third set of locks to the canal, double the waterway’s capacity and allow much bigger ships to transit the isthmus.

   On May 6 the ACP released tenders for the channel and bids are due July 26. The expansion is expected to be completed by 2014 or 2015.

   “This EIS is a critical step forward and will help to make sure that the Canal’s expansion work is conducted in an environmentally sustainable manner,” said Daniel Muschett, ACP environmental protection specialist who oversees the environmental aspects of the canal expansion.