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Shipspotters all over the world => Shipping News and information => Topic started by: dallen on January 31, 2008, 10:58:23 PM

Title: Panama Canal Expansion Needed?
Post by: dallen on January 31, 2008, 10:58:23 PM
Hello everyone.  Sorry if this is a 'duh' question, but I am wondering, does the Panama Canal really need expansion?  The canal operators and supposedly shipping companies say there is congestion, but the locks are idle most nights.  

I realize people have an interest in using larger ships than the canal handles.  I just wonder if the canal expansion might not be a scam, sort of like the dot com con game that took our economy for a ride not too long ago, except on a smaller scale.

Any comments, suggestions, etc. would be extremely much appreciated.

Best regards,
Dan Allen
Montpelier, Vermont
Title: Re: Panama Canal Expansion Needed?
Post by: Jean Hemond on February 01, 2008, 01:52:40 AM
The project of doubling the locks is already going ahead !
that from what I learned watching THALASSA  on french TV network last year
The internationnal bids are in the making!

 href="http://www.panamaoffshorecenter.com/?cnt=28" target="_blank">http://www.panamaoffshorecenter.com/?

Some sections  of the PANAMA canal operates oneway only so they have to wait for the trafic to exit those sections to reverse the trafic!

 There is a  complex system of advance passage booking and it goes a year ahead!

But the big question is  competition and  money politics

The alternative Nicaragua Canal project is on the drawing board!

Jean

Title: Re: Panama Canal Expansion Needed?
Post by: Glenn Towler on February 01, 2008, 03:58:50 AM
Also take into consideration that some times at night they close a lane in the locks to enable repairs, servicing and inspections to be undertaken.  This is the only opportunity they get apart from the 1 24 hour no traffic day a year.

Also if the weather is bad in the lake that can hold traffic up, I have seen on the webcam are miraflores 4 or 5 ships either tied alongside at the locks or at anchor because of poor visability in the lake, even with moden sonars, radars and GPS it is still very hard to navigate when you can't see out in front of you.  Othernights I have seen it flat out.

As for the expansion, they have to expand it to cater for these supersized ships in order to remain competitave with their main compeditor the Suez Canal.