Canal Expansion Research Articles

Clash of the Titans: Temporal Organizing and Collaborative Dynamics in the Panama Canal Megaproject

Recent studies of temporary organizing and project-based work explain how organizational actors establish and maintain clear role structures and harmonious relations in the face of precariousness by engaging in stabilizing work practices. This focus upon ‘order’ undervalues conflict-ridden negotiations and power struggles in temporary organizing. This paper demonstrates that in temporary organizing conflict and order may exist in tandem. Drawing close to the collaborative dynamics in a large-scale global project, we analyse the political struggles over role patterns and hierarchic positioning of client and agent in the temporary organization of the Panama Canal Expansion Program (PCEP). In such projects, the agent typically takes the position of project leader. In this case however, the client was formally in charge, while the agent was assigned the role of coach and mentor. The diffuse hierarchy triggered project partners to engage in both harmony-seeking social and discursive practices and to enter into conflict-ridden negotiations over authority relations in the everyday execution of the PCEP project. Our study contributes to existing literatures on temporal organizing by presenting a case of simultaneous practices of harmonization and contestation over mutual roles and hierarchic positions. We also show that studying collaboration between project partners involves, not merely analysing project governance structures, but also offering a context-sensitive account of everyday social and discursive practices. Finally, we reflect on a view of ‘permanence’ and ‘temporariness’ as themselves contested categories and symbolic sites for struggle.

Panama Canal expansion and its impact on East and Gulf coast ports of U.S.A.

ABSTRACTThis paper focuses on the Panama Canal expansion and its impact on American port infrastructure for the attention of academic researchers in maritime transportation and supply chain management (SCM). First, it provides a comprehensive background based on a review of pertinent practitioner as well as academic publications. This is followed by a summarization of the impact of this expansion on the infrastructure of the major East and Gulf Coast (EGC) ports, since these stand to be the most affected. Then it presents a categorization scheme for these EGC ports that capture their likelihood of attracting the expected increase in cargo traffic engendered by the expansion; this is preliminarily supported by the latest data on growth in container traffic. The policy implications of this categorization are then discussed and the paper ends by identifying key SCM research problems exposed by the above.

Effect of Mini-plate Fixation on Hinge Fracture and Bony Fusion in Unilateral Open-door Cervical Expansive Laminoplasty

Study Design: This was a retrospective study. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Centerpiece mini-plate fixation on the complete fracture and bony fusion of the hinge side in unilateral open-door cervical expansive laminoplasty. Summary of Background Data: Cervical laminoplasty is an effective and safe surgery for cervical canal stenosis. The Centerpiece mini-plate is an instrument used to secure the laminae and maintain the cervical canal expansion. Stability of the new laminae is largely dependent on healing of the hinge side bone fracture and the degree of bony fusion. To date, few studies have reported on the effects of mini-plate fixation on these 2 important factors. Materials and Methods: Between September 2009 and March 2011, 58 patients received unilateral open-door cervical expansive laminoplasty at the authors’ hospital. The group included 47 male and 11 female patients, with a mean age of 61 (range, 35–81) years. Two hundred twenty-five laminae were fixed using the Centerpiece mini-plate (group A), whereas 62 laminae were fixed using suture suspension (group B). The rates of fracture and bony fusion of the hinge were observed using computed tomography scan and compared between the 2 groups. The complete fractures were subdivided into 4 groups based on the degree of displacement of the fractured ends: type I (no displacement), type II (mild to moderate displacement), type III (complete displacement or separation), or type IV (the hinge had collapsed into the cervical canal). Results: The number of incomplete fractures and type I to IV fractures in group A were 95, 93, 25, 8, and 4 and 29, 25, 4, 2, 2 in group B, respectively. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of complete fracture rates (P=0.309) and complete fracture type distribution (P=0.694). Group A had a significantly higher rate of bony fusion of the hinge 3 months after surgery (82% vs. 70%, P=0.042); however, this rate was not statistically significant 6 months after surgery (P=0.141). For type I complete hinge fracture, group A had higher bony fusion rates, both 3 months (86% vs. 57%, P=0.004) and 6 months (92% vs. 85%, P=0.048) postoperatively. The rates of bony fusion were also significantly different among all complete fracture types 3 months (P<0.001) and 6 months (P<0.001) postoperatively. Conclusions: Centerpiece mini-plate fixation in unilateral open-door cervical expansive laminoplasty might not increase the complete fracture rate compared with suture suspension and might promote bony fusion of type I complete hinge fractures.

A-bridge Crossover Story: Opportunities from Cooperative Multi-cultural Exchange

In parallel to the Panama Canal Expansion, the Third Bridge over the Panama Canal is currently under construction 3.5 kilometers north of the Third Set of Locks on the Atlantic side. Designed by a Chinese-US consortium and contracted as a Design-Bid-Build project, both the design and technical specifications for the Atlantic Bridge, including those relevant to concrete works, are mainly based on AASHTO, ACI and ASTM criteria. As the Atlantic Bridge is located in a high-salinity maritime environment, the major structures of the bridge, other than those for the cable-stay system, are to be built with reinforced concrete. The durability of such structures is of a paramount importance for the project. Therefore, hybrids of both, prescriptive and performance-based technical specifications were put together to ensure that service-life requirements would be fulfilled. Per the Contract, the development of the different concrete mixes was the full and exclusive responsibility of the French construction Contractor. Compliance with both durability requirements and constructability was a significant technical challenge for the Contractor. After the Owner organized a cooperative series of workshops, a feasible technical solution was achieved by means of incorporating certain provisions from European Standards into the Contract. As a result of these collaborative efforts, the Contractor was able to commence the works for the foundations of the project. This paper highlights the challenges, pitfalls, benefits and opportunities derived from international cooperative collaboration with a multi-cultural and multi-standard perspective.

Vessel capacity restrictions in the fleet deployment problem: an application to the Panama Canal

This paper analyses the consequences of the upcoming Panama Canal expansion using a liner fleet deployment model (LFDM) applied to the container shipment routing problem. As the canal capacity will be increased in 2016 from 5000 TEUs to 13,000 TEUs vessels, new options will be offered to container liner shippers. Some earlier work has suggested impact on shipping patterns, transshipment and cost structures. We derive optimal results for a MIP implementation of the LFDM adapted to the Panama Canal problem for demand scenarios on different international container traffic routes corresponding to a range of ±17 % of the actual Canal traffic in 2014. Our results show positive effects on total costs from fleet redeployment of larger vessels to the Canal-crossing routes, leading to lowered vessel costs and higher utilization rates. The expansion is also environmentally advantageous since the fleet composition will induce lower bunker fuel consumption and thereby lower \(\hbox {CO}_2\) emissions. However, the total Canal costs are still predicted to be a minor proportion of the cost basis without incentives for additional or alternative Canal capacity.

East Coast vs. West Coast: The impact of the Panama Canal’s expansion on the routing of Asian imports into the United States

Asian firms shipping to inland US points choose between West and East Coast ports. West Coast shipments often have lower transit times but higher freight charges. To investigate factors affecting this routing decision, a coast choice model is estimated. Results are then used to project shifts in demand with the coming completion of the Panama Canal expansion. Our simulations show that if the Panama Canal expansion generates significant transit time savings on shipments from Asia, as projected, that there will be major shifts in traffic from West to East Coast ports, raising important policy implications for port operators on both coasts.

The case of the panama canal expansion: Pacta sunt servanda versus rebus sic stantibus in public works procurement

The Panama Canal expansion is one of the most important public works projects in recent times. Both the awarding of the contract and its execution have been surrounded by intense controversy. The situation came to a head in February 2014 when the contractor halted construction work due to the canal authority’s failure to maintain the economic balance of the contract. This article explains the circumstances surrounding this dispute and analyses the causes and consequences of modifications to the contract. These are classic problems that affect all public procurement systems. The lessons drawn from this extraordinary case are valid for other legal systems

The impact of Panama Canal expansion on the container-shipping market: a cooperative game theory approach

Complicated relationships and interactions among stakeholders in the international container-shipping market make it difficult to estimate the impact of the market’s structural changes. This article uses cooperative game theory to analyze potential impacts of the Panama Canal (PC) expansion on the evolving competitive–cooperative relationships and the distribution of market power among the supply-chain players in the US container-import market. The hierarchical structure of the ocean shipping industry is captured using bi-level optimization models, with the ocean carrier (OC) acting as the market leader. The result shows that the enlarged ship size passing through the PC will increase the East Coast players’ market power by 32% while hurting the West Coast players by 22%. The subcoalition between the OC and the West Coast players is most likely to form prior to the PC expansion while the subcoalition between the OC and the East Coast players is preferred by the OC after the PC expansion. However, the total profit with competitive subcoalitions is always less than the grand coalition’s profit. The impacts of possible variations in service costs, as well as charges by the PC, the ports, and the railroad after the expansion, are also analyzed.

The impact of the Panama Canal expansion on Panama’s maritime cluster

The Panama Canal is currently in the process of a major expansion effort. After the new set of locks is opened in 2016, significantly larger ships can traverse the Canal. The current lock system has been in place for over 100 years, even though the size of ocean-going vessels has expanded considerably. One impact is on Panama’s maritime cluster. It is expected that the expansion will result in greater demand for many of the goods and services provided by the cluster. This article examines the economic impact of the Canal expansion on Panama’s maritime cluster. Clusters of economic activity can result in economies of agglomeration and supply chain network effects. Without these economies and network effects, clusters would not have a competitive advantage over businesses that are not in a cluster. It is expected that with a larger cluster, both agglomerative economies and network effects will increase. But, which cluster components will grow and which will not be affected to a great extent? To what extent will bottlenecks appear? These are some of the questions that this article addresses.

The demand and supply of trans-oceanic sea routes: the case of East Asia-US east coast container trade

The Panama Canal expansion will create a new lane of traffic for larger ships, up to 13,000-14,000 TEUs. While trade between Asia and the USA continues to increase, a number of supply factors may impact the canal's position. First, several US and Canadian west coast ports plan to increase service levels. Second, railroads serving the US west coast are examining the possibility of lowering freight rates. Third, the Nicaragua Grand Canal has been proposed and started construction. Fourth, the Suez Canal is expanding operations and may capture some of the traffic currently transiting the Panama Canal. Fifth, multiple Central American countries are considering constructing 'dry canal' rail links between the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. These together may result in an excess supply of trans-oceanic sea services. This paper examines the possible changes in supply and demand with emphasis on East Asia-US container trade.

The Connective Tissue Components of Optic Nerve Head Cupping in Monkey Experimental Glaucoma Part 1: Global Change.

To characterize optic nerve head (ONH) connective tissue change within 21 monkey experimental glaucoma (EG) eyes, so as to identify its principal components. Animals were imaged three to five times at baseline then every 2 weeks following chronic unilateral IOP elevation, and euthanized early through end-stage confocal scanning laser tomographic change. Optic nerve heads were serial-sectioned, three-dimensionally (3D) reconstructed, delineated, and quantified. Overall EG versus control eye differences were assessed by general estimating equations (GEE). Significant, animal-specific, EG eye change was required to exceed the maximum physiologic intereye differences in six healthy animals. Overall EG eye change was significant (P < 0.0026) and animal-specific EG eye change most frequent, for five phenomena (number of EG eyes and range of animal-specific change): posterior laminar deformation (21, -29 to -437 μm), laminar thickening (11, 20-73 μm) and thinning (3, -23 to -31 μm), scleral canal expansion (17, 20-139 μm), outward anterior (16, -16 to -124 μm) and posterior (17, -22 to -279 μm) laminar insertion migration, and peripapillary scleral bowing (11, 21-77 μm). Experimental glaucoma versus control eye laminar thickness differences were bimodal in behavior, being thickened in most EG eyes demonstrating the least deformation and less thickened or thinned in most EG eyes demonstrating the greatest deformation. Our postmortem studies retrospectively identify five connective tissue components of ONH "cupping" in monkey EG which serve as targets for longitudinally staging and phenotyping ONH connective tissue alteration within all forms of monkey and human optic neuropathy.

Transshipment hubs in the New Panamax Era: The role of the Caribbean

Transshipment hubs are perhaps the most critical component in container shipping networks. Transshipment enables traffic consolidation and the related scale economies in ship size, rationalization of shipping routes and adjustment of ship capacity to traffic density, and expanding the number of ports covered by the shipping network. This paper provides an assessment of the current state of transshipment with a particular reference to the potential impacts of the expansion of the Panama Canal on this activity in the Caribbean basin. While US East Coast ports are expecting an increase in the size of ships deployed on the through-Panama services following the Canal expansion from the current Panamax to post-Panamax ships, it is argued that substituting direct calling by feedering and expanded transshipment activities in Caribbean hubs is more likely. This transformation in service pattern will be gradual, however. In the first period after the expansion the present direct calling is expected to continue, since post-Panamax ships initially deployed on through-Panama services will not differ much than those on through-Suez services already calling the US. The transformation will take place mainly in the second period, 5 to 10 years after the expansion, when larger ships, defined as New Panamax (NPX), which cannot be efficiently handled by US East Coast ports, will be deployed. Accordingly, a substantial growth in transshipment in the Caribbean Region will take place especially during the second period.

Navigating the evolution of marine policy in Panama: Current policies and community responses in the Pearl Islands and Bocas del Toro Archipelagos of Panama

Recent changes in marine policy in Panama are closely related to sustained expansion of the Panamanian economy in the past ten years. Important drivers of economic growth such as the Panama Canal expansion, tourism, and real estate development directly involve marine and coastal areas. Therefore, maintaining the quality of these environments, as well as the sustainability of the human communities that depend on them, calls for the implementation of adequate management and planning policies. In light of a complex history of marine and coastal policy in Panama, current institutional restructuring processes, and a growing recognition of the importance of marine and coastal geographies, the authors aim to document the current status of, and community response to, marine and coastal policy in Panama, analyzed in terms of three important cross-cutting sectors: tourism, fishing, and conservation. To do so, the authors introduce two case studies: one in the Pearl Islands Archipelago and one in Bocas del Toro, each with varying degrees of participation or involvement in each sector, to illustrate the range of adaptations to change occurring in coastal communities. Based on an in-depth policy analysis and the case studies, the authors suggest that there are important administrative and structural gaps in the legislation and institutions that enforce them, as well as a lack of integration across institutions. In particular, the authors highlight the lack of clear marine and coastal property regimes as an obstacle to the implementation of integrative marine policies in Panama.

Suez Canal's expansion widens corridor for marine invasion

Suez Canal's expansion widens corridor for marine invasion

Cultural practices of governance in the Panama Canal Expansion Megaproject

The academic debate on governance in project management is dominated by research that looks at the structure of governance regimes, but there is very little research on the micro-practices of governance as it actually takes place. This paper fills this gap by focusing on the governance practices of project employees and looking at megaprojects as cultural phenomena. Therefore, a one-year ethnographic field study of the Panama Canal Expansion Megaproject was conducted to examine the cultural practices of governing. In the study, five cultural practices were found to influence the governance of this megaproject: (1) ritualizing the bid-winning ceremony, (2) changing teams, (3) struggling over governance structure, and labeling according to (4) national and (5) organizational cultures. This paper makes a contribution to the current debate by offering a cultural approach of megaprojects and by including a case that shows how ex post micro-processes of governing can start escalation in megaprojects.

Single-door cervical laminoplasty using titanium miniplates alone.

To review outcome of 29 patients who underwent single-door cervical laminoplasty for myelopathy using titanium miniplates alone. Records of 20 men and 9 women aged 35 to 79 (mean, 64.3) years who underwent single-door cervical laminoplasty for myelopathy using titanium miniplates alone were reviewed. A total of 125 laminae were opened; 97 of them were fixed with a titanium miniplate. In 19 patients, a 20-hole titanium miniplate bent to the contour of a lamina was used and fixed into 3 laminae at alternate levels. In the remaining 10 patients, the pre-contoured ARCH Laminoplasty System was used and fixed into all laminae. In most patients, screw fixation was unicortical, and no spacer or bone graft was used. The mean follow-up duration was 4 (range, 2-9) years. At one-year follow-up, the mean Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score improved from 9.2 to 13.2 (p<0.001). The mean JOA recovery rate was 64%. No patient had neurological deterioration. The mean anteroposterior diameter increased from 14.3 mm to 19.7 mm; the mean increase was 6.1 mm in the plated laminae and 5.3 mm in the unplated laminae (p=0.11). Out of the 125 laminae, there were 2 hinge non-unions in the unplated laminae, and 2 screw pullouts (not associated with plate loosening). No patient had penetration into the vertebral foramen or neuroforamen. Spring-back closure occurred in 5 (18%) of the 28 unplated laminae, with a mean of <3 mm loss of the initial expansion. Two patients developed transient C5 palsy presenting as shoulder abduction weakness. One patient had a delayed dural tear due to a sharp spike at the edge of the opened C6 lamina. Single-door cervical laminoplasty using miniplates alone is a safe technique and achieves a high hinge union rate, good canal expansion, and neurological recovery.

Btk29A-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of armadillo/β-catenin promotes ring canal growth in Drosophila oogenesis.

Drosophila Btk29A is the ortholog of mammalian Btk, a Tec family nonreceptor tyrosine kinase whose deficit causes X-linked agammaglobulinemia in humans. The Btk29AficP mutation induces multiple abnormalities in oogenesis, including the growth arrest of ring canals, large intercellular bridges that allow the flow of cytoplasm carrying maternal products essential for embryonic development from the nurse cells to the oocyte during oogenesis. In this study, inactivation of Parcas, a negative regulator of Btk29A, was found to promote Btk29A accumulation on ring canals with a concomitant increase in the ring canal diameter, counteracting the Btk29AficP mutation. This mutation markedly reduced the accumulation of phosphotyrosine on ring canals and in the regions of cell-cell contact, where adhesion-supporting proteins such as DE-cadherin and β-catenin ortholog Armadillo (Arm) are located. Our previous in vitro and in vivo analyses revealed that Btk29A directly phosphorylates Arm, leading to its release from DE-cadherin. In the present experiments, immunohistological analysis revealed that phosphorylation at tyrosine 150 (Y150) and Y667 of Arm was diminished in Btk29AficP mutant ring canals. Overexpression of an Arm mutant with unphosphorylatable Y150 inhibited ring canal growth. Thus Btk29A-induced Y150 phosphorylation is necessary for the normal growth of ring canals. We suggest that the dissociation of tyrosine-phosphorylated Arm from DE-cadherin allows dynamic actin to reorganize, leading to ring canal expansion and cell shape changes during the course of oogenesis.

Relationship between the laminoplasty opening size and the laminoplasty opening angle, increased sagittal canal diameter and the prediction of spinal canal expansion following open-door cervical laminoplasty.

To clarify the relationship between the laminoplasty opening size (LOS), the laminoplasty opening angle (LOA) and the increase in sagittal canal diameter (SCD) and to predict the amount of canal enlargement during open-door cervical laminoplasty (ODCL). Formula describing the relationship between LOS and LOA, the increase in SCD was deduced. The parameters of pre- and postoperative computed tomography scans of 36 patients who had undergone laminoplasty surgery were measured by picture archiving and communication system (PACS) software, and the amount of canal enlargement of these patients was predicted when the opening size of laminoplasty was 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 mm according to the formula. For equivalent LOS, the amount of canal enlargement with each opening size differed throughout the cervical region. When the C3-C7 LOS was 10 mm the SCD increased >4.1 mm, and the canal area increased in C3-C6 >88 mm(2), and the canal area increased in C7 > 80 mm(2). When the C3-C7 LOS was 12 mm, the SCD increased >5.2 mm, and the canal area increased in C3-C6 >104 mm(2), and the canal area increased in C7 > 94 mm(2). Formula accurately showed the relationship between the LOS and the increase in SCD achieved by ODCL. The amount of canal enlargement following ODCL could be predicted by the formula. LOS of 10-12 mm at C3-C7 might be optimal during ODCL.

The Influence of Panama Canal Expansion Project on the Containerization

Since the late 1970s, container shipping fell into a high speed development era. The large ship brings the lower cost and more capacities. This paper aims to introduce the evolution of container ship, and then discuss the influence of Panama Canal Expansion Project on container transport routes in the world. The study shows that the competition in shipping market depends upon ship type development.

Dural Ectasia in a Child With Larsen Syndrome

We present a case of an incidental finding of dural ectasia in a child diagnosed with Larsen syndrome. Larsen syndrome is a rare inherited disorder of connective tissue characterized by facial dysmorphism, congenital joint dislocations of the hips, knees and elbows, and deformities of the hands and feet. Dural ectasia is as an abnormal expansion of the dural sac surrounding the spinal cord and may result in spinal morphologic changes, instability, and spontaneous dislocation. To the best of our knowledge, the presence of dural ectasia in Larsen syndrome has not previously been reported. A 6-year-old boy diagnosed with Larsen syndrome presented with an upper thoracic curve measuring 74 degrees, a right thoracic curve measuring 65 degrees, and significant cervicothoracic kyphosis with 50% anterior subluxation of C6 on C7 and C7 on T1. Advanced imaging studies showed dural ectasia (evidenced by spinal canal and dural sac expansion), thinning of pedicles and lamina, and C4 and C6 pars defects with cervical foramen enlargement. The patient received growing rod instrumentation (attached to cervical spine fixation) by a combined anterior/posterior surgical approach using intraoperative halo. Complications included intraoperative medial breach (fully resolved), wound dehiscence, 2 instances of bilateral broken rods, and a broken cervical rod. Following 7 lengthening procedures, the patient underwent definitive fusion. Surgeons should be aware of the potential for dural ectasia in patients with Larsen syndrome. Its presence will cause difficulties in the surgical intervention for spinal deformity. Multiple factors must be considered, and surgical approach and technique will require modification to avoid complications. Although dural ectasia confounds surgical intervention in these patients, surgery still appears to outweigh the risks associated with delayed intervention. The presence of dural ectasia should not preclude surgical decompression and stabilization. This report adds to the body of knowledge on the treatment of Larsen syndrome by demonstrating the potential existence of dural ectasia and highlights the importance of careful and thorough preoperative evaluation and diagnostic imaging.