[260512.EN.SEA] Container Terminal To Dock 18,000-TEUers On Atlantic Side Of Panama Canal

THE Panama Maritime Authority has approved plans to build a new US$600 million container terminal at Colon on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal that will be able to handle two million TEU per annum.

A report by London's Port Technology International said the 92-acre terminal on the site of a former US naval base will be developed by a consortium of Asian developers under the name of Panama Colon Container Port LLC (PCCP). Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) has been appointed the project advisor, according to media reports.

The design calls for four berths to be built at the Colon terminal, with two to handle super post-Panamax vessels, one for the handling of post-Panamax vessels, and a 522-foot berth for the accommodation of multipurpose and breakbulk vessels.

The terminal will be equipped with eight super post-Panamax cranes and two Panamax cranes to handle ships up to 18,000 TEU; and a 36,000-TEU capacity container yard, with additional space for 800 reefer slots. It is slated for completion in the third quarter of 2014.

The consortium is also reported to be in the final stages of discussions with "one of the world's largest terminal operators" over the day-to-day operation of the terminal.

"This will be the first terminal in Panama designed from the ground up for the post-Panamax era," the head of JLL's global port infrastructure group, John Carver, was quoted as saying. "This will be a big needle mover for Panama, one entirely built by private developers."

He added, "We just did the bidding for the dredging and land reclamation two weeks ago, and we're expecting to start construction in July."

The developers are also reported to be considering whether to build a new logistics centre, including warehouses and cold storage, next to the new terminal site.

Source : HKSG.