Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/11681/34266
Title: San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico : Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment : Executive Summary and Main Report
Authors: United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Jacksonville District
Keywords: San Juan (P.R.)
Harbors--Puerto Rico
Navigation
Environmental management
Publisher: United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Jacksonville District.
Abstract: Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment (IFR/EA) are used to determine if there is a Federal interest in navigation improvements at San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico. The USACE study authority for this IFR/EA is House Resolution 2764 of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives, adopted September 20, 2006, which authorizes the Secretary of the Army to determine the feasibility of providing navigation improvements at San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico to increase security, safety and efficiency. As the cargo transportation industry continues to shift to larger, more efficient petroleum tankers and larger cruise ships to meet increased passenger transportation needs, the vessel fleet is trending toward larger, deeper-draft vessels, particularly for gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) products, and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The Federal channels serving San Juan Harbor’s major terminals are currently authorized to depths ranging from -30 to -40 feet MLLW. To reach port terminals, existing petroleum product tankers must light load, which results in additional transits to provide the required quantities of gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel, and other petroleum products for the island. These channel depth constraints require vessel operators to forego potential transportation cost savings available from the economies of scale associated with existing and larger ships drafting deeper. Restrictive channel widths along Army Terminal Channel also limit access of larger Long Range (LR2) tankers and future LNG ships to terminals at the Army Terminal Turning Basin. Additionally, prevailing winds from the east at 2530 knots can increase the effective beam of vessels. This problem is particularly notable in the Bar Channel. For cruise ships, the limiting channel depths in cruise ship related channels and basins restrict maneuverability for turn-and-go movements, ultimately increasing transit time within the harbor. The purpose of this study is to reduce or eliminate transportation cost inefficiencies for the petroleum product tankers and larger cruise ships transiting the Federals channels of San Juan Harbor and to avoid and/or minimize environmental impacts. The study is needed as the existing depths and widths of the Federal channels place constraints on vessels currently calling San Juan Harbor. These navigation concerns are primarily attributed to three main problems: difficult wind and wave conditions, limited channel and turning basin widths, and insufficient Federal channel depths.
Description: Feasibility Report / Environmental Assessment
Rights: Approved for Public Release; Distribution is Unlimited
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/11681/34266
Appears in Collections:Environmental Documents

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