LATIN AMERICA with three chambers hosting water-saving basins . New locks will be one each for the Pacific and Atlantic sides of the canal . The project foresees to widen and deepen the existing navigation channels in Gatun Lake and the entrance to each ocean , as well as deepening the narrow Culebra Cut .
Completion of the canal ’ s expansion labors is projected for April 2016 . Grupo Unidos por el Canal ( GUPC S . A .) is an international consortium in charge of the expansion ; this group consists of four construction companies : Spain ’ s Sacyr Vallehermoso , Italy ’ s Impregilo , Belgian dredging company Jan De Nul n . v ., and Panama ’ s Constructora Urbana de Panama ( CUSA ).
Benefits Derived from the Expansion Project
Since the expansion project was conceived , this large-scale construction has benefitted -directly and indirectly- different sectors in Panama ’ s economy , raising local life quality standards . The following are the project ’ s three most important benefits to Panamanian economy and development :
1 . 37,000 open positions for direct employment : the number of new job positions to fill for the project ’ s expansion exceeded the original expectations figured in the 2006 proposal . Figures for indirect employment positions increased too , thus benefitting domestic economy .
Key People
Ilya Marotta Executive Vice- President of Engineering and Program Management for Panama Canal Authority
Marotta graduated as a Maritiime Engineer from Texas A & M ( Galveston , Texas ) in 1985 . She earned a Masters ’ in Economic Engineering from Santa Maria la Antigua Catholic University in 1996 . She also attended Managerial Development courses at INCAE ( Nicaragua , 2000 ) and at the Kellogg School of Management . Certified Project Manager by PMI in 2007 . Marotta has worked for the Panama Canal Authority during more than 27 years on different positions , such as : Design Engineer for the Industrial Division , for the Engineering Branch , Dredging Division , and for the Mechanical Engineering Branch . She also worked for the Accounting Division as Valuation Engineer . In May 2002 Marotta was assigned to the Canal Master Plan coordination team , under the Administrator ’ s Office , where she became involved in the development of the Panama Canal Master Plan and the Expansion Proposal presented to the Nation for a Referendum on October 22 , 2006 . She then transferred to the Programs Development Office , planning the execution of the various works required for the expansion program . In May 2007 she was appointed as Executive Manager of the Resources Planning and Project Controls Division , Engineering and Programs Administration Department , which is responsible for the execution of the expansion program .
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