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The
excavation and dredging works to enlarge the
Panama Canal are being carried out in different
levels of execution, as part of a process that
should conclude in 2014. The first dry
excavation stage, has been fulfilled by almost
90 per cent. The second part of the contract,
work has been executed by 60 per cent. The third
is still in its initial stage. According to
available reports the value of the already
agreed contracts reached about 339.4 million
dollars in December.
The programme consists of the construction of
two lock complexes, with three levels each,
together with the widening and deepening of the
existing navigation channels in the Gatun Lake
and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Another dry digging of approximately four miles
will be performed to join the Pacific and Corte
Culebra locks. Three consortiums presented their
respective proposals to design and build the new
locks of the Canal. The Panama Canal widening
will cost 5.2 billion dollars, of which 3.2
billion dollars will be spent in the locks.
The Panama Canal is a man-made canal which joins
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. One of the
largest and most difficult engineering projects
ever undertaken, it had an enormous impact on
shipping between the two oceans, replacing the
long and treacherous route via the Drake Passage
and Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South
America.
A ship sailing from New York to San Francisco
via the canal travels 9,500 KM (6,000 miles),
well under half the 22,500 km (14,000 mile)
route around Cape Horn.
Although the concept of a canal near Panama
dates back to the early 16th century, the first
attempt to construct a canal began in 1880 under
French leadership. After this attempt failed and
saw 21,900 workers die, the project of building
a canal was attempted and completed by the
United States in the early 1900s, with the canal
opening in 1914.
The building of the 77 km (48 mile) canal was
plagued by problems, including disease
(particularly malaria and yellow fever) and
landslides. By the time the canal was completed,
a total of 27,500 workmen are estimated to have
died in the French and American efforts.
Since opening, the canal has been enormously
successful, and continues to be a key conduit
for international maritime trade. The canal can
accommodate vessels from small private yachts up
to large commercial vessels.
The maximum size of vessel that can use the
canal is known as Panamax; an increasing number
of modern ships exceed this limit, and are known
as post-Panamax or super-Panamax vessels. A
typical passage through the canal by a cargo
ship takes approximately 8-10 hours.
Source: Sunday Observer
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