Alan Lam reports

 According to Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (Maritime Authority of Panamá), a firm plan is afoot for the construction of a new, modern cruise terminal near the Pacific entrance to the canal.

The $30 million “multifunctional” project will be located in a small archipelago connected by Calzada de Amador (Amador Causeway), just south of Panamá City. It will include a substantial commercial development and support facilities.

According to Jorge Barakat, the administrator of the Maritime Authority, the chosen location has a water depth of between 7 and 12 metres, with a magnificent view of the city and the coastal strip.

The site has an area of about 30 hectares, with 11.5 hectares designated as commercial spaces. The planned construction period will last between 12 to 18 months. The government is in the process of initiating the tender process.

Currently there is a conspicuous lack of cruise port facilities in and around the capital city. The logistics for cruise ships arriving at Amador is complicated, involving transferring passengers by small boats.

The aim of this project is to transform Panamá City into a homeport similar to the one in Colón at the other end of the canal.

The Calzada de Amador is a road connecting Panamá City with four Pacific islands, which form a small archipelago. It was built in 1913 by the U.S. government with rocks excavated during construction of the canal.

The site was originally part of a U.S. military complex, known as Fort Amador, established to protect the entrance to the canal. The area is now a thriving tourist attraction. Upon completion, Panamá will have two major homeports, one on each end of the newly enlarged Canal.