Work starts on Panama Canal's second largest expansion project

WORK has commenced on the second largest project of the Panama Canal's expansion, after the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) gave the go-ahead to the FCC-ICA-Meco consortium to begin work on the fourth and final dry excavation (PAC-4) contract.

PAC-4 is the most complex expansion project after the design and build of the new set of locks. The dry excavation included in PAC-4 will create an access channel linking the new Pacific locks with the Canal's existing Gaillard Cut, which is the narrowest stretch of the Panama Canal, a statement from the ACP said.

The ACP awarded the PAC-4 contract to FCC-ICA-Meco, a Spanish, Mexican and Costa Rican joint venture which submitted the lowest bid for the contract at $267.8 million that fulfilled the requirements laid out in the request for proposal specifications.

The ACP said it issued the notice for the consortium to begin the work after receiving FCC-ICA-Meco's performance and payment bonds and signing the contract.

The scope of work will include 26 million cubic metres of unclassified excavation, the installation of a backfilled cellular cofferdam water barrier and the construction of an earth-rock filled dam that will create part of the access channel's eastern bank. The work is to be completed in the third quarter of 2013.

Expansion will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of locks to double capacity and allow passage to greater traffic volumes and longer, wider ships.

Debenhams renews US$182 million logistics contract with DHL

DHL Supply Chain, the Bonn-based global logistics services provider, has renewed a contract worth GBP113.2 million (US$182 million) with Debenhams department stores once again extending a 12-year partnership.

The new three-year agreement sees DHL's specialist fashion unit continue to develop and provide warehouse and distribution services to 157 stores across UK and Ireland.

DHL, said to be the world's largest express company, operates all three of Debenhams distribution centres in the UK, providing a full array of transport and warehouse services; including supplier collections, store deliveries, outbase and cross dock operations.

Debenhams have collaborated with DHL in the face of the downturn to produce a thorough two-year cost cutting programme. The developments have delivered significant year-on-year cost reductions by more than 10 per cent.

DHL now manages over 120 million units annually which spans Debenhams diverse range of products across several market segments including fashion, beauty, home wares, linen and jewellery.

(Source: www.schednet.com)