World record for raiseboring - Atlas Copco

AT THE PANAMA CANALThe Panama Canal is currently being expanded in order to double its capacity andboost its revenues from international shipping. Paving the way for the containerships of tomorrow is a fleet of a different kind.CaribbeanSeaGatun LakePANAMALimon BayGatun LocksUSAPedro MiguelMiraflores LocksPANAMAPANAMA CITYPacificOceanLocation of the Panama Canal: A popularshort cut for merchant ships sailing betweenthe Caribbean and Pacific oceans.The Panama Canal is one of the world’smost important international tradingroutes. Opened in 1914, it now enablesmore than 14 000 ships per year to travel backand forth between the Pacific and Atlanticoceans.But now, almost 100 years since thecanal was built, the Panamanian authoritiesare preparing to receive bigger, heaviervessels than ever before.It is predicted that the world will see amajor upswing in seagoing cargo trafficover the next few years, and to meet thischallenge the Panama Canal is racing todouble its capacity.Two new giant lock facilities are underconstruction – one at the Pacific end andone at the Caribbean end – to accommodatebigger ships, and carrying out thenecessary drilling and blasting work is afleet of six Atlas Copco drill rigs.This fleet, made up of ROC D7 drillrigs is owned and operated by Jan De Nulof Belgium, one of four companies withinGrupo Unidos Por El Canal (GUPC) incooperation with Sacyr of Spain, Impregiloof Italy and Cusa of Panama.Dual purpose drillingEquipped with COP 1840 hydraulic tophammerrock drills, 89 mm drop centerSecoroc bits and folding booms, these rigsare used for drilling and blasting at theso-called Third Lock Segment at the Pacificend of the canal.14 MINING & CONSTRUCTION – 1 / 2011