Historic Dredge Mindi to Be Replaced at Panama Canal

http://www.thelog.com/news/logNewsArticle.aspx?x=9444

By: Capt. Pat Rains Friday, May 15, 2009 2:02:00 PM

PANAMA — As the Panama Canal expansion project gains speed, the historic dredge vessel Mindi is proving costly to replace.

The Authority of the Canal of Panama (ACP) announced last week that it had awarded a $95.92 million contract to a Dutch company, IHC Beaver Dredgers B.V., to build a new dredge vessel to replace the elderly Mindi.

“Everyone waves to Mindi in passing,” said Pete Stevens, an agent for yachts in Panama. Well known to mariners who have transited the Panama Canal, the 125-foot-long dredge vessel Mindi has been in active service since 1942, working in the Gaillard Cut — the narrowest stretch in the Panama Canal — and often moored in Gamboa.

Mindi’s submerged drill bit operates off a large crane on the bow, and tailings removed from the bottom are directed to shore in floating pipelines. The two-story cabin houses up to 20 working crewmembers at a time. Tugs are often used to keep Mindi’s dredging end in position, as anchors could be fouled by the dredging process.

Because Mindi’s capacity of 9,000 kw (12,064 hp) isn’t sufficient for widening the Panama Canal for the new generation of post-Panamax vessels, the new Beaver dredge will have a 12,000 kw (16,086 hp) capacity.

To be constructed in the Netherlands, the new dredge vessel will be able to dig down to 25 meters, and it will operate not just in the narrow part of the canal but also in Gatun Lake and both Atlantic and Pacific entrances outside the new locks, according to the ACP.

Meanwhile, pleasureboaters transiting the Panama Canal over the next two years can still wave goodbye to Mindi: The new Beaver dredge vessel isn’t scheduled to arrive in Panama until May 2011. The Panama Canal expansion is scheduled to be finished in 2013.

US Senate panel sets hearing on Panama trade deal

Thu May 14, 2009 6:33pm EDT

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSN1451468220090514

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON, May 14 (Reuters) - The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing next week on a free trade pact with Panama that has been delayed by U.S. concerns over that country's tax and labor laws, the panel said on Thursday.

The agreement is one of three free trade deals negotiated by the administration of former President George W. Bush that have been awaiting congressional action since 2007.
Approval of the Panama agreement is widely seen as clearing the way for action on more controversial trade deals with Colombia and South Korea.

Many U.S. businesses, such as Caterpillar (CAT.N), also want Congress to pass the deal to give them an advantage over foreign competitors in selling goods and equipment needed for a major expansion of the Panama Canal already underway.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk told Reuters last week he saw "a window" to pass the Panama agreement before current Panama President Martin Torrijos step downs on July 1.

But Panama needs to enact a number of labor reforms and address U.S. concerns about its tax haven laws, Kirk said.

U.S. trade officials have been in Panama this week for talks on the issue, which many Democrats want completely resolved before President Barack Obama formally submits the agreement to Congress for a vote.

Everett Eissenstat, assistant U.S. trade representative for Western Hemisphere affairs, is expected to testify on the results of that trip at the Senate hearing next Thursday.

Representative Kevin Brady, a Texas Republican who has pushed for quick action on the Panama deal, said it made sense for lawmakers to begin reviewing the agreement since it appears likely the White House "will send it up soon."

Once a trade pact is formally submitted to Congress, lawmakers have 90 days to approve or reject the agreement without making changes.
(Reporting by Doug Palmer; editing by Alan Elsner)