Design and Construction of PostPanamax Locks

During the first quarter of 2008, ACP continued responding to prequalified consortia’s inquiries and requests for clarification on the terms of reference of the Design and Construction of the new PostPanamax locks. These clarifications will generate modifications and improvements to the terms of reference. Individual meetings were held with all consortia as part of the process and some members visited the Cocoli and Gatun sites.

Additionally, in February, Dutch company Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) started revising the new locks model. RWS has assigned experts in hydraulic and navigational models to carry out a revision of the mathematical and physical models of the locks’ filling and emptying system and the basin model.

During this quarter, contractors continued working on the construction of the Pacific and Atlantic field offices that will be used by ACP personnel and consultants who will manage the construction of the new locks. The Pacific and Atlantic offices show a 40% and 18% advance respectively.

The contract for the construction of the road to the Gatun tourist dock that goes around the areas designed for the use of  the locks’ contractor was awarded on January 21, 2008. The order to proceed was issued on February 11, 2008 and the pre-construction meeting took place on February 25. The contractor has completed the clean-up activities on site and is currently surveying the area to compare its results with ACP data and proceed with earth movement.

Pacific Access Channel Excavation

The first phase of the Pacific Access Channel (PAC-1) is ahead of schedule. The PAC-1 contractor has finished all the preliminary activities and has completed the clean-up of 146 hectares in the T6 materials disposal site, which was contaminated with Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC). To date, the PAC-1 contractor has excavated approximately 1.9 million cubic meters, considerably more than originally planned. The project shows an advance of approximately 35%, compared to the 30% that was expected to date. On January 30, 2008, the Ad-Hoc Commission visited the PAC-1 site and inspected the execution of the project and checked on its progress.

On February 20, 2008 a pre-construction meeting with the Pacific Access Channel Phase 2 (PAC-2) contractor took place and on March 22, 2008 the project broke ground. To date, the PAC-2 contractor has excavated approximately 44,000 cubic meters. During this period, the contractor also continued with clean-up activities, wildlife rescue, and relocation of electric and water lines. Most of the equipment is already on site, in operation, or being assembled, and workers who will use the immense trucks and excavators are being trained.

During this quarter, the ACP also continued with the design of the third phase of the Pacific Access Channel (PAC-3), which consists of excavating some 6.8 million cubic meters of material and clean-up of approximately 200 hectares of the T6 disposal site that is currently contaminated with MECs. The tender for this contract will take place in June 2008. The ACP is well advanced in the design of Phase 4 of the Pacific Access Channel (CAP-4), including the design of the 1 E Dam, also know as the Borinquen Dam. In this respect, during the month of March the ACP continued with explorations and geological tests requested by the contractor for the design of the dam and other smaller dams that are also part of the program.

Dredging of Pacific Entrance Channels

Geological explorations performed by a group of companies interested in bidding concluded on January. On March 19, the ACP received proposals and started the evaluation process. On March 31, the evaluating team concluded the evaluation and the contract is expected to be awarded during the first week of April.

During this quarter the ACP also finalized the plans for the dredging of Gatun Lake and Culebra Cut. These will be executed with a combination of internal resources and contracts. The deepening of Culebra Cut will begin in April with perforations and blasting, once the deepening that is part of the Modernization Program concludes. Dredging for the Expansion Program is expected to begin in the Cut in the month of October with the RMC Christensen dredge.

As part of the Gatun Lake Dredging Project, a contract is expected to be awarded for the dredging of approximately 5 million cubic meters of the more than 19 million cubic meters to be dredged in that sector. The RMC Christensen and the leased Il Principe dredge along with its corresponding supporting equipment will move to the lake to continue the Expansion dredging in the San Pablo Reach.

Management

During the first quarter of 2008, the program Management team – comprised of ACP and CH2MHill personnel – continued revising and implementing policies and processes for the program’s management, implementation, and project control. Furthermore, the revision and update of the program’s execution baseline which integrates its reach, chronogram, and budget, is underway. 

Furthermore, contractors continue working on adapting existing facilities, including the preparation and revamping of buildings for the program’s administrative offices and the construction of a new building to host a new soils laboratory. The purchase of additional vehicles that will be used for inspections, monitoring, and control is also in progress.