Maritime

Canal closes bidding process for dredging

The Autoridad del Canal de Panama (ACP) yesterday closed the period for submitting bids for dredging near the Pacific entrance to the waterway.

The ACP did not release the names of the companies that had submitted bids, saying: "The process of selecting the contractor will be based on the lowest qualified bid, so the names of the bidders and their respective amounts will be maintained in the strictest confidence." Sources within the ACP said they expected the contract to be awarded within the next 30 days.

The work will involve dredging an area 225 meters wide to a depth 15.5 meters below sea level at low tide. The work will take place in the navigation channel of the canal as well as at the entrance to the third set of locks.

The work will allow the so-called "panamax" ships, which are larger than the ships currently using the Canal, to enter the waterway once the new locks are completed.