Costa Norte LNG Terminal, Colon, Panama

The LNG Panama project involves the design and construction of a jetty and maritime infrastructure for the Costa Norte LNG terminal, a major energy project aimed at facilitating the import and export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Panama. This terminal will significantly boost the region’s LNG import capacity and support the growing demand for cleaner energy alternatives. The project includes the development of a jetty, intake and outfall infrastructure, and all necessary maritime structures to ensure safe and efficient LNG handling. 

Project details and key parties 

The LNG terminal project is being carried out by the BAM-ICONSA JV, with POSCO as the main contractor and AES as the owner. This collaboration involves a variety of construction activities, including the design and construction of the LNG jetty, maritime infrastructure, and temporary works. The jetty will support the docking and transfer of LNG tankers, while the intake and outfall infrastructure will be critical for cooling and environmental management systems. One of the significant construction challenges involves working in shallow waters, which requires innovative techniques to ensure the safe installation of the necessary structures. Throughout the project, the team has focused on maintaining safety, optimizing design, and adhering to tight schedules. 

DMC’s role and scope of work 

DMC played a crucial role in the LNG Panama project, contributing to the tender and detailed design phases. The scope of work included the basic and detailed design of the maritime infrastructure, as well as the design of temporary works, such as the cantilever traveller, which enabled construction in shallow waters without any downtime. DMC also carried out metocean studies, dynamic marine analysis (DMA), and pile driving analysis (PDA) testing to ensure that the design was robust enough to withstand the harsh environmental conditions. 

DMC’s presence on-site throughout the project allowed for constant optimization of the design and construction process. Expertise in value engineering led to significant time and cost savings, ensuring that the project was completed safely, on time, and within budget. The traveler system designed by DMC was particularly critical in allowing construction to proceed efficiently in very shallow waters, which otherwise would have caused significant delays. 

Location 
Colon, Panama

Structure 
LNG jetty and maritime infrastructure 

Owner/Operator 
AES 

Our Client 
BAM-ICONSA JV 

Completion Design 
2017 

Challenge 
Construction in very shallow waters posed significant challenges for installation and required innovative temporary works to avoid downtime. Additionally, ensuring the design could withstand harsh environmental conditions, and completing the project on time and within budget while adhering to environmental standards. 

Solution 
DMC designed a cantilever traveller system, which allowed construction in shallow waters with no downtime. The value engineering efforts also resulted in time and cost savings. DMC's on-site presence and expertise helped optimize the design and construction process, ensuring a safe, timely, and budget-conscious project delivery.