This is good news for the US contractor and good news for Panama too. Having a large respected U.S. company involved in the process will help keep the bidding process clean from special deals.
DENVER, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Panama
Canal Authority (ACP) has awarded CH2M HILL, a global full-service
engineering, construction and operations firm the Program Management
contract for the $5.25 billion Panama Canal Expansion program.
Subcontractors on the team include DHV Group, Grupo TYPSA, CSA Group,
and Earth Consultants International. "We are proud to contribute our global experience to help build not
only one of the world's major infrastructure projects, but to build it
in such a way as to leave a lasting legacy of sustainable socioeconomic
growth and environmental responsibility," said Michael Kennedy,
President of CH2M HILL Transportation Group. "We are thrilled to
support Panama's incredible vision for its future." The expansion project involves building a new set of massive locks
on both the Atlantic and Pacific ends of the existing canal and will
include substantial excavation and dredging. The project schedule calls
for the first "Post Panamax" vessel to transit through the expanded
canal in 2014, the 100th anniversary of the completion of the original
canal. A Post Panamax vessel is the term for ships that are larger than
a Panamax and do not fit in the original canal. After expansion, the
Panama Canal is expected to be able to handle vessels up to 12000 TEU
in size.
"The expansion of the Panama Canal is
considered one the most visible and important infrastructure projects
in the world, and will affect global commerce significantly over the
next century," said Garry Higdem, CH2M HILL's lead executive for the
Panama Canal program. The Program Management function involves assisting the Panama Canal
Authority (ACP) in the management of all contracts, interfacing with
design build and construction teams, as well as numerous stakeholders.
"We are honored to team with ACP in delivering this historic project
for the citizens of Panama," said Jhan Schmitz, CH2M HILL's Program
Manager for the Canal Expansion. "The key to this program's success
will be the effective coordination of a world-class multidisciplinary
team." Headquartered in Denver, Colo., employee-owned CH2M HILL is a global
leader in engineering, construction and operations for public and
private clients. With $4.5 billion in revenue, CH2M HILL is an
industry-leading program management, construction management and design
firm, as ranked by Engineering News-Record (2007). The firm's work is
concentrated in the areas of transportation, water, energy,
environment, and industrial facilities. The firm has long been
recognized as a most-admired company and leading employer by business
media and professional associations worldwide. CH2M HILL has more than
19,000 employees in regional offices around the world.
