THE first shipment of valves, built in South Korea by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, has arrived for the Panama Canal Expansion Programme
THE first shipment of valves, built in South Korea by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, has arrived for the Panama Canal Expansion Programme to be used in the operation of the third set of locks.
"This marks a new milestone for the Panama Canal expansion works, particularly for the construction of the new locks," Panama Canal Administrator Jorge Quijano said in a release.
The first shipment includes 47 valves that are part of the postpanamax locks electromechanical system that will regulate water flow between the chambers, the culverts and water-saving basin conduits.
In addition to the valves, the shipment included eight bulkheads of different types for the new locks and four trash racks that will be installed on the wing-walls along the water intakes to avoid the passage of debris from the lake and into the locks chambers.
The valves, bulkheads and trash racks first arrived at Manzanillo International Terminal facilities in Colon province, and were then transported by land on flat-bed trucks. A total of 36 elements were delivered to the expansion site on the Atlantic side and 23 to Pacific site. A total weight of 1,304.49 tons of steel was transported during the seven-day operation.
Local companies subcontracted by Hyundai, handled the logistics, land-based transportation and unloading of the valves. A second shipment of valves is scheduled to arrive at the end of January.
By the end of 2013, the port is expected to receive a total of 158 valves (culvert, equalisation and conduit), 84 bulkheads and 328 trash racks to support the works.
