CANAL EXPERTS CONTRIBUTE TO WORLD REFERENCE GUIDELINE UPDATE ON LOCKS DESIGN
PANAMA CITY, Panama, October 15, 2009 – The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced its participation in this year’s World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure’s (PIANC) workshop, “Innovations in Navigation Lock Design,” to be held in Brussels, Belgium October 15-17. ACP Assistant Project Manager for the Pacific New Set of Locks Juan Wong will brief maritime experts, as keynote speaker, on the new locks under the Panama Canal Expansion Program.
In 1986, PIANC produced a comprehensive report on locks design, which to date has been considered a world reference guideline on the subject. Now the organization is publishing a new report, the PIANC Report No. 106, to provide an update on the new design techniques and concepts for navigation locks that have developed in the past 25 years. The updated report has been authored by 19 maritime experts from 11 countries (Belgium, China, Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Panama, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom, United States).
“In the early stages of the Panama Canal expansion studies, PIANC’s report was instrumental in helping the ACP in its search for proven locks technologies used around the world, such as rolling gates and water-saving basins,” said Mr. Wong. “We are pleased to report our findings and contribute to this updated report as we move ahead with the Canal Expansion Program.”
The new report, prepared by the Inland Navigation Committee (INCOM), on which Mr. Wong actively participated as a member, includes more than 50 project reviews of existing navigation locks and lock projects under development and their innovative aspects. The Panama Canal's new set of locks project is included among these reviews for its cutting edge navigation locks designed to serve ocean-going post-panamax vessels that combine multiple lifts, rolling gates, water saving-basins, a side filling-emptying hydraulic system and tug assisted operations.
About the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC)
PIANC is the global organization providing guidance for sustainable waterborne transport infrastructure for ports and waterways. PIANC is the forum where professionals around the world join forces to provide expert advice on cost-effective, reliable and sustainable infrastructure to facilitate the growth of waterborne transport. Established in 1885, PIANC continues to be the leading partner for government and private sector in the design, development and maintenance of ports, waterways and coastal areas. For more information, please refer to PIANC’s Web site: www.pianc.org.
About the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)
The ACP is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the ACP is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors. For more information, please refer to the ACP's Web site: www.pancanal.com.