Project Title:

Freeport Container Terminal Development, Phases II, II(A) & IV

Project Members:

and

Key Features:

• Provision of a modern, high density, high capacity, high speed, low maintenance, long term durability, continuously operating Container Terminal
• A complete 'turnkey' project - to design, construct, test and commission the works
• Survey of ground conditions - Co-ordination of ground investigation reports in the form of hydrographic and geotechnical reports to ascertain the make-up of the container port
• Technical Excellence - Design of a technically difficult scheme - involving design of enabling works to overcome conditions encountered in the form of caves, caverns and voids below ground level
• FIDIC Conditions of Contract for Design-Build and Turnkey (First Edition 1995)

Country   Grand Bahama, Bahamas
Client   Freeport Container Port Ltd
Scope of Service   Design, construct, test and commission the project
Period of Service   1998 - 2004
Financed by   Client

History

In April 1995, Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) formed a joint venture with Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) to own and operate the Freeport Container Port. This move led to the phased construction of the Freeport Container Terminal and to further HPH participation with GBPA in other major developments on Grand Bahama.

Phase I was let to Misener Marine Construction Inc. in 1995 under a design & construct contract. Opened in April 1997, Phase I comprised 548m of quay and 19ha of operational back-up area.

Technical Description

In January 1998, Halcrow was appointed by Freeport Container Port Ltd to provide pre-contract and post-contract services for Phase II. Duties included the preparation of reports on the existing Phase I facilities, on site surveys and investigations; the preparation of design & construct tender and contract documentation for Phase II; document reviews; site construction supervision and contract administration.

Costain was subsequently awarded the contract for Phase II, which involved the design, construction, installation and commissioning of the marine and land based container terminal. The marine works consisted of a 488m long water berth to accommodate post-Panamax vessels, involving extensive heavy civil engineering works, consisting of 'combi' wall piling, rear crane beam foundations, in addition to cave stabilisation using in-situ and pre-cast concrete piling techniques, along with Pavement Quality (PQ) concrete works to the quay front.

The landside works consisted of the construction of a 14ha container yard and back-up facility areas, such as the 3-storey administration and amenities building, an extension to the existing straddle carrier workshops, and an HV sub-station. The container yard construction involved major earthworks, planing to reduced levels, paving works, and trenching and ducting to accommodate the mechanical and electrical equipment.

Halcrow were subsequently appointed for the pre and post contract stages of Phase IV. Phase IV construction was awarded to Costain in February 2003 on the strength of the Company's in-depth knowledge and reputation for delivering quality workmanship on the previous phases of the development of Freeport Container Port.

This Phase involved earthworks, mechanical and electrical works, drainage, water supply, high mast lighting, pavement works, consisting of the placement of CBM and PQ concrete, block paving, construction of a new 30m x 20m stores building, extension to the 2-storey engineering building and an extension to a straddle carrier building.

Summary

The combined Phases I, II & IV development, with the seven super post-Panamax rail mounted quay cranes and twenty-two 1-over-2 straddle carriers (supplied under separate contracts) can accommodate three super post-Panamax vessels. The operational handling and storage capacities are amongst the largest in the world.