Colon Container Terminal Phase I

Location: Colón, Rep. De Panamá
Client: Colon Container Terminal, S.A.
Designer: Union- Tech Engineering Consultants Co.

In the mid 1990´s Colon Container Terminal (CCT), a subsidiary of the Taiwanese Evergreen Group and one of the world´s largest and most successful container ship operators, entered into a thirty year port operation concessionary agreement with the Panamanian Government. Shortly thereafter, CCT contracted a large multinational to complete the first phase complete. When it became apparent that the project was in jeopardy, we were contracted to complete the work. Under a revised unit-price contract, new construction methodologies were implemented a strict quality control program was put into effect and a schedule was developed that put the project back on track and on budget. Less than a year later, CCT was able to inaugurate its new 612 m long container quay, five Panamax container cranes, 25 hectares of container storage area and 180 connections for refrigerated containers.

Principal construction features included:

  • Driving over 3,370m of pre-stressed concrete piling with lengths up to 47 m and 6,570m of 700 mm diameter steel pipe piling.
  • Superstructure consisted of precast and cast-in-place concrete elements fabricated in the company´s on site yard.
  • Radiographic quality control was performed on all pipe pile welded joints.
  • Over 200,000 m2 of high capacity flexible pavement produced and placed in container yards.

Colon Container Terminal Phase II

Location: Colón, Rep. De Panamá
Client: Colon Container Terminal, S.A.
Designer: Union- Tech Engineering Consultants Co.

After successful completion of the Phase I works, Colon Container Terminal S.A. re-contracted DCI to lead the company’s port expansion program. The Phase II works were designed to keep up with an ever increasing demand for container facilities and called for the construction of an additional 370 meters of wharf, over 500,000 m3 of dredging, and a 25 acre container storage area including exterior electric grid for refrigerated containers, fire water and high mast site lighting. The wharf is currently equipped with 4 post-Panamax size gantry cranes.

Features:

  • Construction of new container ship quay deck (320m).
  • Dredging to construct large landfill, steel pipe piling, and reinforced CIP concrete frame with precast deck elements.

Improvements to Paraiso Landing

Location: Pedro Miguel
Client: Panama Canal Commission
Designer: Panama Canal Commission

The construction of the Paraiso Landing was our company’s first opportunity to design and construct a complex sheet pile cofferdam. The project included the engineering, procurement and construction of a series of circular cells and diaphrams to form the substructure for a tug boat landing facility. In addition to the landing, the firm also constructed an office building and equipped the landing with water, electrical and fueling system.

Principal construction features included:

  • The engineering procurement and installation of over 2000 tons of steel sheet pile.
  • Superstructure consisted of precast and cast-in-place concrete deck.
  • The procurement and installation of a new diesel fuel storage and dispensing system
  • Construction of office building area lighting and parking facilities.

Chiriquí Grande Dry Cargo Pier

Location: Bocas del Toro, Panama.
Client: Petroterminales de Panama, S.A.
Designer: Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers.

Having established a strong relationship with the owner on an earlier project, our company was selected to construct an all-steel general cargo pier at the Atlantic terminus of the Trans-Panama Pipeline. Located in the remote part of the country, the pier has been built to accommodate ships up to 180m in length and with maximum drafts of 11m.

Features:

  • Design and performance of three 1,000 ton off-shore pile load tests.
  • Furnish and install 2,200 m of 1,050 mm steel pipe pile.
  • Superstructure consisting of steel stringer and metal deck construction with cast-in-place concrete deck (epoxy-coated rebar)
  • Dredging of approximately 60,000 m3 for berthing and turning areas
  • 100% radiographic testing of welded pile joints.