Worker killed on Panama Canal widening project

A construction worker was killed Tuesday (July 6) while working on the dredging project to expand the Panama Canal.
The worker, who has not been identified, was working on the Marco Polo,a dredger on the Gatún lake, near the Atlantic entrance of the canal. The 49 year old man worked for the Belgian company Jan de Nul, which forms part of Grupos Unidos por el Canal – the consortium responsible for the project.
The other partners are Spanish company Sacyr, Italian company Impregilo, and Panamanian company Constructora Urbana, S.A..
The consortium is responsible for the construction of the third set of locks, the most important component of the widening of the Canal.
Workers have been on strike since the weekend protesting low pay, and working conditions.