Today began the construction of the new Amador cruise ship port with an investment of $165 million which will have the capacity to receive 2 mega-cruise ships and of up to 10 thousand passenger’s simultaneously. The new port of Amador will generate plenty of jobs for Panamanians and increase the countries competitiveness, making it a strong competitor to the cruise industry and a tourist potential spot. The goal is to turn Panama into a destination for easy access with a Cruise Port on the Pacific side, allowing thousands of travelers and tourist to take their favorite routes from Panama with another large contribution to the national economy.
Foreseeing the growing global and regional market for cruises and new mega-cruise ships, the Panama Government spent many years of design, planning and investigation with the maritime authority of Panama to create a new port in the Amador. This new port provides a connection to the entrance to the Panama Canal as an opportunity to develop tourism in the country.
The project includes the construction of a new terminal where cruise ships and passengers can dock in the Amador and have easy access to all the benefits that Panama City has to offer. It will have the capacity to receive two ships at the same time and, once built, the operation will be managed by a State entity under the technical cooperation of the port of Hamburg.
The work will be carried out within 18- 24 months. The terminal will have capacity to accommodate two ships of 360 meters in length, with a capacity of 5,000 passengers per vessel, in an area whose depth must reach 10.5 meters and be able to receive cruise ships at any time of day, regardless of the condition of the tides.
The terminal will have an area with parking for 300 vehicles, 60 spaces for buses and 25 for trucks. An environmentally friendly administrative building of approximately 10,800 square meters will be built to serve the 10,000 passengers when the port is in full operation. This building will have an environmental friendly certification, with more than two hectares of green areas and walking paths.
The cruise terminal will be a public port and will be administered by the AMP( Panama Marine Authority), a measure aiming at ensuring that this terminal provides quality service to all operators using it and not limit the use to any cruise company in particular.
The design and construction of the Amador cruise terminal, at Perico Island, was awarded by the AMP to the consortium Cruceros del Pacifico, integrated by Jan De Nul Panama SA and China Harbour Engineering Company. As a member of the consortium Cruceros del Pacifico, Jan De Nul Panama SA will take care of all dredging and land reclamation works as required for the construction and operation of the terminal. This includes dredging the berth pocket, turning basin and access channel. A trailing suction hopper dredger will also be deployed to dredge and transport sand from a borrow area and reclaim an area of 8.3 hectares for the construction of all land-based facilities.