HR Wallingford in the UK is to undertake physical modelling studies for a breakwater which forms part of the proposed port expansion of San Antonio, Chile. Almost 90 per cent of all of Chile’s foreign trade goes through its ports, of which San Antonio is currently the largest, with an annual throughput of 18.2 million tons in 2016.

The Outer Port project represents a major expansion of the existing port infrastructure of San Antonio and the overall cost is estimated US$3.4 billion. Construction of the new breakwater to shelter the terminals involves a first section perpendicular to the coast, approximately 1.5km in length, followed by another section of about 2.4km long running parallel to the coast, for which over 1.8km² of land will be reclaimed. The design includes an access channel and the dredging of the turning basin and the interior harbour.

Work on the breakwater could begin by 2020, and the first stage of the first terminal could start operating by 2026 or 2027. The Outer Port would then be developed in discrete stages, to be fully completed by 2038 or 2040.

The news is collated by ChinaRubberFender.com – Marine Fender Supplier.