Panama Canal chooses Belgian dredging firm
The Panama Canal Authority awarded Belgian maritime projects specialist Dredging International a contract to dredge the man-made Gatun Lake, a major step in expanding the canal’s ability to handle larger ships.
Dredging International, a division of DEME Group, was the low bidder by far on the project with an estimate of just under $40 million for the project, well behind the $57.9 million bid of another Belgian company, Jan De Nul.
Both firms already are working on other projects to dredge the Pacific Ocean entrance to the canal.
The ACP picked Dredging International from among six bids for the work to widen and deepen interior parts of the navigational channel. The third-lowest bid came from China Harbour Engineering, and the highest came from Dutch project specialist Van Oord, at about $98 million.
“The ACP has partnered with Dredging International N.V. in the past and we are confident in its proven expertise to deliver this important component of the expansion program,” said ACP Executive Vice President of Engineering and Program Management Jorge L. Quijano. “Not only has the ACP benefited from a competitive price that is within the estimated budget, but it is also assured of an effective, high quality execution.”
Dredging International, a division of DEME Group, was the low bidder by far on the project with an estimate of just under $40 million for the project, well behind the $57.9 million bid of another Belgian company, Jan De Nul.
Both firms already are working on other projects to dredge the Pacific Ocean entrance to the canal.
The ACP picked Dredging International from among six bids for the work to widen and deepen interior parts of the navigational channel. The third-lowest bid came from China Harbour Engineering, and the highest came from Dutch project specialist Van Oord, at about $98 million.
“The ACP has partnered with Dredging International N.V. in the past and we are confident in its proven expertise to deliver this important component of the expansion program,” said ACP Executive Vice President of Engineering and Program Management Jorge L. Quijano. “Not only has the ACP benefited from a competitive price that is within the estimated budget, but it is also assured of an effective, high quality execution.”