The Panama Canal Authority will be making changes to the composition of consortia in tenders for construction works in order to prevent millions in losses because of claims made by subcontractors.
Conflicts between contracted parties who design and those who carrying out the works, and the lack of clarity in the responsibilities of each of the companies during the Panama Canal expansion motivated the adjustments to be made to future tender specifications.
On March 11 the second edition of the event will be held which will present opportunities for business development that will arise from the opening of the third set of locks of the Panama Canal.
The Panama Maritime Chamber is organizing the event called Logistic Summit 2016: Logistics in the Americas after the Canal Expansion on March 11.
TY Lin International Panama won the contract to provide technical assistance to the project management of the fourth bridge over the Panama Canal, in the amount of $17.8 million.
It is not only the port of Corozal which needs immediate promotion, there is also an urgent need to keep building port infrastructure in order to take advantage of the Canal expansion.
EDITORIAL
The opinion of entrepreneurs in the logistics sector is unanimous: the forthcoming opening of the new and expanded Panama Canal locks should be the starting point for consolidating Panama as a major logistics hub for the hemisphere.
Companies are being called on to participate in the prequalification process for the tender for the design and construction of a fourth bridge over the Panama Canal.
The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) is opening from today until Friday 22 January, the prequalification process for companies, firms, groups (consortia or accidental associations) who will be able to withdraw the prequalification documents for the project for the design and construction of a fourth bridge over the Panama Canal.
The arrival of the first ships with capacity of 13 TEUs at the Panamanian port of Balboa is evidence of how shipping services are changing, a prelude to the opening of the expanded Canal.
Trips taken by cargo bound for East Asia with two major shipping companies in the world, Maersk Line and MSC, will be shorter, thanks to the port at Balboa now being able to manage ships carrying over 13,000 TEUs's, a capacity which is close to the amount carried by ships which will pass through the expanded Canal.
The Panama Canal Authority expects to start in February the construction of a specialized Roll On-Roll Off cargo terminal in the Pacific, next to the planned container port in Corozal.
The purpose of a specialized rolling cargo terminal is to turn the area where it will be built into a center for redistribution of vehicles, machinery and heavy equipment to serve the local market and other Latin American countries.
The Panama Canal Authority has been given the green light to start the process of prequalifying companies interested in bidding for the award of a container transshipment port in Corozal.
From a statement issued by the Panama Canal Authority:
The Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has authorized the administration to convene a pre-qualification stage for companies interested in participating in the international tender for the concession of a container transshipment port in Corozal.
The process to select the right company for the design and construction of the fourth bridge over the Canal will include a prequalification process.
In order to develop a fair and transparent process, the Cabinet has authorized the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) to carry out a prequalification process of companies for the design and construction of the fourth bridge over the Panama Canal.
Companies interested in developing and operating the new Panamanian port will face stiff competition from Panama Ports Company, which has already prepared a plan and requested to receive the concession directly.
The operator of the ports of Balboa and Cristobal, which has repeatedly expressed opposition to the idea of building a container terminal in Corozal, now wants to be its developer and operator, and it has now submitted a proposal to the Panama Canal Authority to receive a direct concession of the land located in the area.
26 companies participated in the approval meeting for the tender to provide technical assistance to the project management of construction of the fourth bridge.
Companies who attended the approval meeting:
Company - Country of origin
WSP I Parsons Brinckerhoff - CANADA
CONCOL - COLOMBIA
TRIAD - COLOMBIA
TY LIN - USA
LOUIS BERGER - USA
LANGAN - USA
APCTE - USA
The Panama Canal Authority is putting out to tender the construction of a pier in Monte Esperanza, in the province of Colon, Atlantic sector.
Panama Government Purchase 152376:
"The work involves the construction of a pier for the extension of the dock 14 in Monte Esperanza, according to the plans and specifications of this Agreement, and includes everything needed for:
Panama Canal Railway Company plans to invest $75 million once the concession of the port is approved, which is still waiting for legislation to grant the concessionaire the same tax benefits that other port operators receive.
An article on Thebulletinpanama.com reports that the operator of the Interoceanic train (PCRC) "... invested about $80 million in renovation and modernization in order to make initial annual capacity 400,000 containers.
The beginning of studies has been announced for the development of a natural gas terminal and a wind farm in areas under the responsibility of the Panama Canal Authority.
An article on Prensa.com reports that "... The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is preparing a study for what will be a Natural Gas terminal in the areas adjacent to the waterway ... Canal Administrator Jorge Quijano told the News Agency of Panama (ANPanamá) that they already have a contribution given by a US government department to finance the study, the figure is around US $800,000. "
The activity had gained momentum through the concession of a port in Corazal, but is losing it in the legislative halls of the National Assembly.
The old merchant´s saying is apt for illustrating the risk that Panama is taking by losing position in terms of regional competition in the logistics area.
An article on Prensa.com contains quotes by Jorge Luis Quijano, administrator of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) who says: "The 'window' for making the decision to tender the concession of the container terminal in Corozal closes in six months... Abandoning this project would throw overboard any additional income generated by this port both for the Canal Authority and the State, besides missing out on the creation of hundreds of jobs in the construction phase and then during its operation. "